eksossystem

Eksossystem refers to the complex network of living organisms and their physical environment within a defined area. The term is used in some languages to denote what is commonly called an ecosystem, or, in certain disciplines, to emphasize external factors that influence biological communities. In ecological usage, an eksossystem comprises biotic components such as plants, animals, fungi and microbes, together with abiotic factors like soil, water, climate and nutrients. These components interact through energy flow and matter cycling, producing food webs, nutrient dynamics and habitat structure.

The structure of an eksossystem is defined by its composition, organization and connectivity. Composition refers to the diversity and abundance of species; organization describes trophic relationships, functional roles and niches; connectivity covers habitat fragmentation, dispersal corridors and spatial scale. Functionally, eksossystems provide services including provisioning (food, water), regulating (climate regulation, flood control, disease suppression), supporting (pollination, soil formation) and cultural (recreation, aesthetic value).

Dynamics and resilience describe how eksossystems respond to disturbances such as fires, storms or human disruption. Disturbances can trigger succession, alter species composition, and lead to new equilibria. Human activities—pollution, land-use change, climate change—pose risks but can be managed through conservation, restoration and sustainable resource use.

Methods to study eksossystems include field surveys, remote sensing, laboratory analyses, modeling and ecosystem service valuation. Examples include forest eksossystems, freshwater lakes, coastal marine systems and urban ecosystems.

Note: The term eksossystem is not universally standardized; in English, the preferred term is typically ecosystem, while exosystem is used in developmental psychology to describe external environmental layers.