Measures of the importance of components of nature (living being or non-living element), of the processes that are derived from the interactions among these components, or of particular properties of those components and processes.

An assemblage of interacting biological and physical processes.

Global-scale zones, generally defined by the type of plant life that they support in response to average rainfall and temperature patterns. For example, tundra, coral reefs or savannahs.

Biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Includes solid biomass such as wood, plant and animal products, gases and liquids derived from biomass, industrial waste and municipal waste.

The mass of non-fossilized and biodegradable organic material in a given area or volume.

see Biomass (ecology).

In fisheries organizations, biological sustainable levels are usually defined according to MSY, which is the Maximum Sustainable Yield (or catch) that can be continuously taken from a stock under existing environmental conditions without affecting its reproductive potential. Two key levels are considered: to assess the sustainability of fishing on a given stock: FMSY which is the fishing mortality that is consistent with achieving MSY and BMSY that is the biomass that results from fishing at FMSY for a long time.

Biological resources include genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity.

The fixation of carbon at the oceans' surface by photosynthesizing organisms and subsequent sinking of a sizable fraction (15-20%) of total productivity creates a strong vertical transport that dominates the distribution of carbon, nutrients, and oxygen in the ocean, known as the ‘biological pump’.

See 'Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)'.