saprobic

== English == === Etymology === From saprobe +‎ -ic. === Adjective === saprobic (not generally comparable, comparative more saprobic, superlative most saprobic) (biology) Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a saprobe or saprobes; that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter. (ecology) That contains dead or decaying organic material (and therefore also saprobes). 1969, Wilhelm Rohde, Crystallization of Eutrophication Concepts in Northern Europe, National Academy of Sciences (U.S.), Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences, Correctives, Symposium Proceedings, page 60, Each of the polysaprobic, mesosaprobic, and oligosaprobic zones is now divided into one α- and one β-level, of which the former is more saprobic than the latter. ==== Usage notes ==== In the ecological sense, a zone is more saprobic than another if it scores higher on a scale that depends on the number of saprobe species found, as well as the abundance of each species. ==== Synonyms ==== (containing saprobes): saprobiotic ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== saprobity, saprobity index saprophyte === Anagrams === picobars