Ecosystems ecological chemical systems 87

Experimental aquatic ecosystems have become widely used tools in ecotoxicology because they allow for a greater degree of control, replication, and repeatability than is achievable in natural ecosystems. The test systems in use vary from small indoor microcosms to large and complex outdoor experimental ecosystems. However, natural freshwater systems may also vary considerably in size and ecological complexity. Before addressing the spatial extrapolation of results of model ecosystem experiments that were conducted on different localities, the possible influence of the size and ecological complexity of test systems on responses to chemical stress will be discussed. 

Xu FL, Dawson RW, Tao S, Li BG, Cao J. 2002. System-level responses of lake ecosystems to chemical stress using exergy and structural exergy as ecological indicators. Che-mosphere 46 173-185. 

Alkaloids from many plants are considered to be used as biological fertilizers in ecological cultivation. This is very important especially in cases when more attention is given to these plants, which play not only a role in production but also in the cyclical maintenance of a field, garden or forest ecosystems . Plants containing alkaloids, for example lupines, have the ability to establish complexes with the soil and with the rhizosphere. The excretion of many chemicals from roots to soil occurs in this complex. Plant mediation with the soil environment is the result. The alkaloids play a major role in this plant-soil interaction system. 

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