1. ecology the rate at which biomass is produced per unit area by any class of organisms 2. ecology the rate of new tissue formation or energy utilization by one or more organisms 3. ecology the capacity or ability of an environmental unit to produce organic material 4. ecology the ability of a population to recruit new members by reproduction 5. management the relative capacity of an area to sustain a supply of goods or services in the long run —see site qualityThis definition last updated 08/04/2008