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What is the origin of the term “ex-living matter” in environmental science?

The term pops up in contexts describing soil organic matter or detrital food webs. It strikes me as a very deliberate phrase, distinct from just saying "dead biomass" or "organic detritus." Is there a specific ecological or thermodynamic reason authors choose this terminology? I want to ensure I'm using it correctly and understanding its conceptual nuance.

 

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By Norah Answered 2 years ago

You've picked up on an important nuance. In my work, we use "ex-living" deliberately to shift focus from the state of death to the origin and ongoing function of the material. "Dead biomass" implies an endpoint, whereas "ex-living matter" emphasizes it as a transformed, yet active, participant in the ecosystem it's now a substrate for microbes, a reservoir of nutrients, and a controller of soil physics. The term originates from a systems ecology perspective, reminding us that this carbon is still very much in play, just no longer part of a living organism. It's a more precise descriptor of its role in the biogeochemical cycle

 

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