Ascites refers to abnormal accumulation fluid in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. The most common cause of ascites is cirrhosis of the liver. Treatment of ascites depends on its underlying cause.
Ecosystem. A functional system that includes an ecological community of organisms together with the physical environment, interacting as a unit. Ecosystems are characterized by flow of energy through food webs, production and degradation of organic matter, and transformation and cycling of nutrient elements.
ecosystem [(ee-koh-sis-tuhm, ek-oh-sis-tuhm)] A collection of living things and the environment in which they live. For example, a prairie ecosystem includes coyotes, the rabbits on which they feed, and the grasses that feed the rabbits.