A closed vessel (10) housing plant (22), animal (24) and microbiological (26) life forms and media (18, 20) for accommodating interchange of organic and inorganic matter between the life forms constitutes a dynamically balanced oxidative/reductive microcosm. In the reductive half of the cycle, the plant life forms provide oxygen and organic matter for consumption by the animal and microbiological life forms. In the oxidative half of the cycle, the latter provide inorganic materials and free nitrogen for the plant life forms. Energy to perpetuate the oxidative/reductive cycle of the microcosm is provided by visible light. The constituents must be maintained within a predetermined temperature range. IMAGE
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