mesosaprobicadj.
/ˌmɛsə(ʊ)səˈprəʊbɪk/, U.S. /ˈˌmɛzoʊsəˈproʊbɪk/; see also meso- comb. form. Ecology.
Designating, relating to, or characteristic of running water which is partially polluted.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > environmental pollution > [adjective] > partially polluted (water)
mesosaprobic1925
mesosaprobe1927
1925 Bull. Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv. 15 441 The polluted or mesosaprobic zone represents the next step toward purification of the waters. A variety of higher water-plants may exist..and there may be considerable amounts of dissolved oxygen present.
1956 Ecology 189 There is a wide range of sensitivity to carbon dioxide tensions... This criterion distinguishes oligosaprobic, mesosaprobic, and polysaprobic species.
1993 Science (Nexis) 8 Jan. 222 Ciliates, especially larger forms, are indicators of eutrophic, often mesosaprobic environments.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1925