Closed ecological systems or contained ecological systems (CES) are ecosystems that do not rely on matter exchange with any part outside the system.
The term is most often used to describe small, man-made ecosystems. Such systems can potentially serve as a life-support system or space habitats.
In a closed ecological system, any waste products produced by one species must be used by at least one other species. If the purpose is to maintain a life form, such as a mouse or a human, waste products such as carbon dioxide, feces and urine must eventually be converted into oxygen, food, and water.
A closed ecological system must contain at least one autotrophic organism. While both chemotrophic and phototrophic organisms are plausible, almost all closed ecological systems to date are based on an autotroph such as green algae.
Examples
A closed ecological system for an entire planet is called an ecosphere.
Man-made closed ecological systems which were created to sustain human life include Biosphere 2, MELiSSA, and the BIOS-1, BIOS-2, and BIOS-3 projects.
Bottle gardens and aquarium ecospheres are partially or fully enclosed glass containers that are self-sustaining closed ecosystems that can be made or purchased. They can include tiny shrimp, algae, gravel, decorative shells, and Gorgonia.
In fiction
Closed ecological systems are commonly featured in fiction and particularly in science fiction. These include domed cities, space stations and habitats on foreign planets or asteroids, cylindrical habitats (e.g. O'Neill cylinders), Dyson Spheres and so on.
See also
- Biosphere – Global sum of all ecosystems on Earth
- Controlled ecological life-support system – Technology on Space Stations & Closed Ecosystems
- Controlled-environment agriculture – Technology-based approach toward food growing
- IBTS Greenhouse – Egyptian desalination project
- Ecology – Study of organisms and their environment
- Ecosphere – Planetary closed ecological system
- Ecosystem services – Benefits provided by intact ecosystems
- Eden Project – Visitor attraction in Cornwall, United Kingdom
- MELiSSA – European Space Agency led consortium developing life support systems for space missions
- Space colonization – Concept of permanent human habitation outside of Earth
- Spome – Hypothetical matter-closed, energy-open life support system
- Terraforming – Hypothetical planetary engineering process
- Chang'e 4 – Chinese lunar lander & rover
- Space stations and habitats in fiction – Fictional depictions of space stations and habitats in fiction
References
- I. I. Gitelson; G. M. Lisovsky & R. D. MacElroy (2003). Manmade Closed Ecological Systems. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-415-29998-5.
- "A Lexicon of the Spheres" (PDF). Oregon State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
- "ESO 2 Science 11: The Ecosphere and the Ecosystems". Science Helpdesk.
- Salisbury FB; Gitelson JI; Lisovsky GM (Oct 1997). "Bios-3: Siberian experiments in bioregenerative life support". BioScience. 47 (9): 575–85. doi:10.2307/1313164. JSTOR 1313164. PMID 11540303.
- "What is an EcoSphere? (Shrimp and Gorgonia coral)".
- Westfahl, Gary (2005). "Space Habitats". The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works, and Wonders. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 736–737. ISBN 978-0-313-32952-4.
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Closed ecological systems or contained ecological systems CES are ecosystems that do not rely on matter exchange with any part outside the system Biosphere 2 The term is most often used to describe small man made ecosystems Such systems can potentially serve as a life support system or space habitats In a closed ecological system any waste products produced by one species must be used by at least one other species If the purpose is to maintain a life form such as a mouse or a human waste products such as carbon dioxide feces and urine must eventually be converted into oxygen food and water A closed ecological system must contain at least one autotrophic organism While both chemotrophic and phototrophic organisms are plausible almost all closed ecological systems to date are based on an autotroph such as green algae ExamplesA closed ecological system for an entire planet is called an ecosphere Man made closed ecological systems which were created to sustain human life include Biosphere 2 MELiSSA and the BIOS 1 BIOS 2 and BIOS 3 projects Bottle gardens and aquarium ecospheres are partially or fully enclosed glass containers that are self sustaining closed ecosystems that can be made or purchased They can include tiny shrimp algae gravel decorative shells and Gorgonia In fictionClosed ecological systems are commonly featured in fiction and particularly in science fiction These include domed cities space stations and habitats on foreign planets or asteroids cylindrical habitats e g O Neill cylinders Dyson Spheres and so on See alsoBiosphere Global sum of all ecosystems on Earth Controlled ecological life support system Technology on Space Stations amp Closed Ecosystems Controlled environment agriculture Technology based approach toward food growing IBTS Greenhouse Egyptian desalination project Ecology Study of organisms and their environment Ecosphere Planetary closed ecological system Ecosystem services Benefits provided by intact ecosystemsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Eden Project Visitor attraction in Cornwall United Kingdom MELiSSA European Space Agency led consortium developing life support systems for space missions Space colonization Concept of permanent human habitation outside of Earth Spome Hypothetical matter closed energy open life support system Terraforming Hypothetical planetary engineering process Chang e 4 Chinese lunar lander amp rover Space stations and habitats in fiction Fictional depictions of space stations and habitats in fictionReferencesI I Gitelson G M Lisovsky amp R D MacElroy 2003 Manmade Closed Ecological Systems Taylor amp Francis ISBN 0 415 29998 5 A Lexicon of the Spheres PDF Oregon State University Archived from the original PDF on 2016 10 18 Retrieved 2016 10 16 ESO 2 Science 11 The Ecosphere and the Ecosystems Science Helpdesk Salisbury FB Gitelson JI Lisovsky GM Oct 1997 Bios 3 Siberian experiments in bioregenerative life support BioScience 47 9 575 85 doi 10 2307 1313164 JSTOR 1313164 PMID 11540303 What is an EcoSphere Shrimp and Gorgonia coral Westfahl Gary 2005 Space Habitats The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Themes Works and Wonders Greenwood Publishing Group pp 736 737 ISBN 978 0 313 32952 4 This ecology related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This space or spaceflight related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
