havior in which both species are inedible but are similar 

 in appearance, so avoidance learned by predators in tasting 

 one is extended to the other. The term mimicry is often 

 restricted to the former. 



Mineralization 



The decomposition of organic substances to mineral 

 forms, e. g., proteins to nitrates, phosphates, etc. 



Mineral Soil 



Soil composed mainly of inorganic materials and with 

 only a relatively low amount of organic material. 



Minimal Area 



The smallest area on which a community develops its 

 Characteristic species-combination (q. v.). 



Minimalraum, Minimiareal 



See Minimal area. 



Minimum, Law of 



See Liebigs law of the minimum. 



Minimum Quadrat Area 



For a given number of samples in a stand the size of 

 quadrat in which the Species-area curve (q. v.) becomes 

 nearly horizontal, and the use of a larger size to secure 

 greater accuracy is not justified by the time and labor in- 

 volved. 



Minimum Quadrat Number 



For a given size of quadrat used to sample a stand the 

 number of quadrats at which the number of species-number 

 of quadrats curve becomes nearly horizontal, and the use of 

 more quadrats to secure greater accuracy is not justified by 

 the time and labor involved. See Species-number curve. 



Minor Element 



See Essential element, Micronutrient. 



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