Ecodeme

/ˈɛkoʊˌdiːm/ noun

Definition

A group of organisms of the same species that share a specific ecological habitat or local environment and can potentially interbreed.

Etymology

From 'eco-' (Greek 'oikos', environment) combined with '-deme' (from Greek 'demos', population). The term is used in ecology and population biology to describe locally adapted populations.

Kelly Says

An ecodeme is like a neighborhood population—fish in a mountain stream are adapted to cold, fast water, while fish in a nearby lake adapted to still, warm water are essentially different populations even though they're the same species!

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