mesosaprobeadj.n.
/ˌmɛsə(ʊ)ˈsaprəʊb/, U.S. /ˌmɛzoʊˈsæproʊb/; see also meso- comb. form. Ecology.
A. adj.
= mesosaprobic adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > environmental pollution > [adjective] > partially polluted (water)
mesosaprobic1925
mesosaprobe1927
1927 Glasgow Herald 11 June 4/2 Investigators distinguish a..meso-saprobe zone which carp, tench, sticklebacks, and the like can endure.
1987 Bollettino di Zoologia 54 141/1 Dugesia anceps is the most abundant species of triclads in the mesosaprobe streams of southern Buenos Aires Province.
B. n.
A mesosaprobic organism.
ΚΠ
1931 Jrnl. Ecol. 19 235 Naumann's classification was primarily based on the grouping of aquatic micro-communities into oligosaprobes, mesosaprobes, and polysaprobes by Kolkwitz and Marsson.
1952 Sci. Monthly Jan. 7/2 Most of the species of Paramecium are mesosaprobes.
1959 Ecology 40 288/1 All of the organisms found living in a trickling filter could be interpreted as α-mesosaprobes.
Derivatives
ˌmesoˈsaproby n. rare
ΚΠ
1958 Ecology 39 547/2 It can be stated in terms used in saprobiology that the polysaproby was changed into alpha-mesosaproby.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1927