{"thcode":2,"term":{"code":54,"name":"aquatic ecosystems","parent":319,"scope":"Communities of interdependent organisms living primarily in or on water."},"uf":[{"name":"planktonic ecosystems","usewith":{"code":903,"name":"plankton","parent":841,"scope":"Floating aquatic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) which are often microscopic and drift with the current in lakes, rivers, and oceans."}}],"bt":[{"code":319,"name":"ecosystems","parent":921,"scope":"The interacting populations of plants, animals, and  microorganisms occupying a certain area, and their relationship to the environment."},{"code":921,"name":"population and community ecology","parent":1174,"scope":"Interactions of a single species (population) or an association of different species (community) occupying a particular region, including their biotic and abiotic environments."},{"code":1174,"name":"topics","parent":1,"scope":"Themes, subjects, and concerns for which USGS information resources are relevant."},{"code":1,"name":"Categories","parent":null,"scope":"Thematic terms for categorizing information resources.  This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information."}],"nt":[{"code":85,"name":"benthic ecosystems","parent":54,"scope":"Biologic communities and habitats at the bottom of lakes, streams, or oceans."},{"code":358,"name":"estuarine ecosystems","parent":54,"scope":"Biological communities and habitats within sea inlets or the zones where rivers meet the seas which are subject to tidal effects and the mixture of fresh and saltwater."},{"code":419,"name":"freshwater ecosystems","parent":54,"scope":"Biological communities and habitats that exist in lakes, rivers, ponds, and other bodies of water that are not salty."},{"code":704,"name":"marine ecosystems","parent":54,"scope":"Biological communities composed of plants and animals living primarily in or on seawater."}],"rt":[{"code":53,"name":"aquatic biology","parent":650,"scope":"The scientific study of organisms living in or near water.  This term is to be used for the science of 'aquatic biology' and for  biological studies in fresh and brackish water. For marine biological studies, use 'marine biology'."},{"code":174,"name":"coastal ecosystems","parent":1156,"scope":"Biological communities and habitats within the narrow zones of land between the margin of oceans or seas and large landmasses."},{"code":311,"name":"ecology","parent":650,"scope":"Study of the relations between living plants and animals and their environment."},{"code":657,"name":"limnology","parent":291,"scope":"Scientific study of the physical and biological characteristics of inland bodies of water such as lakes and ponds."},{"code":702,"name":"marine biology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology concerned with the organisms and habitats of the seas and oceans."}]}