Closed ecological system

A closed ecological system for an entire planet is called an ecosphere. Man-made closed ecological systems which were created to sustain human life include Biosphere 2, MELiSSA, and the BIOS-1, BIOS-2, and BIOS-3 projects. However, no artificial closed ecological systems involving humans have been able to successfully support life for long periods of time. Bottle gardens and aquarium ecospheres are partially or fully enclosed glass containers that are self-sustaining closed ecosystems that can be made or purchased. They can include tiny shrimp, algae, gravel, decorative shells, and Gorgonia. == Weaknesses ==

Closed ecological systems often remain unstable due to low biodiversity, as they contain far less species than natural ecosystems. They also lack the redundancy that help stabilize natural cycles, trophic interactions, and population dynamics, as any decline in the species of the closed system may lead to system collapse as no other organisms are able to compensate. Natural processes such as carbon sequestration and oxygen production are highly sensitive to changes within a closed system, which can lead to dangerous accumulations or depletions in gases and toxins. For example, in Biosphere 2, oxygen levels declined while soil microbes produced higher levels of carbon dioxide, which resulted in higher rates of algal blooms in water bodies. As a result, 30% of the species and all pollinators died off. Human involvement in closed systems create further weaknesses, as human respiration and nutritional diet are placed under additional strain. Micronutrient limitations, psychological needs, and waste production complicates the long-term overall stability of the system. ==In fiction==

Closed ecological systems are commonly featured in fiction and particularly in science fiction. These include domed cities, space stations and habitats on foreign planets or asteroids, cylindrical habitats (e.g. O'Neill cylinders), Dyson Spheres and so on. == See also ==