https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sergei_Ostroumov/publication/323122008 ;
https://5bio5.blogspot.com/2018/02/new-pubication.html ;
ISSN 1070-3632, Russian Journal of General Chemistry, 2017, Vol. 87, No. 13, pp. 3199–3204. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2017.
Original Russian Text © S.A. Ostroumov, 2017, published in Ekologicheskaya Khimiya, 2017, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 175–182.
Water Quality and Conditioning in Natural Ecosystems: Biomachinery Theory of Self-Purification of Water;
S. A. Ostroumov. Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia; Received September 24, 2016;
Abstract—General principles of the theory of polyfunctional role of biota in self-purification of water in aquatic ecosystems have been formulated. The theory includes the following elements: (1) energy sources for self-purification of aquatic ecosystems; (2) main functional units of the self-purification system; (3) main selfpurification processes; (4) contributions of major taxa to self-purification of aquatic ecosystems; (5) reliability of the system and mechanisms ensuring it; (6) self-regulation of biota; (7) response of the system to external stimuli (impacts); (8) analogy between an ecosystem and a bioreactor; (9) conclusions for nature conservation practice. The theory covers both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Keywords: aquatic ecosystems, water supply sources, water quality, self-purification of water, pollution control, filter feeders, aquatic biota, biomachinery, ecological chemoregulators, ecological chemomediators, hydrobiology
INTRODUCTION Continuous accumulation of knowledge in the field of aquatic ecology and biology (see, e.g., [1–3]) and our experimental works (e.g., [4–13]), as well as increased shortage of water of good quality in water supply sources, led to the need to develop general principles of functioning of aquatic ecosystems. At present, the term conditioning is usually associated with air conditioning. However, one can consider conditioning of water, i.e., the achievement of its useful properties. The analysis carried out in the present article makes it possible to get a deeper insight into the vital role of aquatic organisms in preserving water bodies and sources of water supply in a good or, at least, satisfactory condition. Water consumption is a large-scale cycle, including both technological and natural processes. Initial or preliminary stages of water treatment take place in natural water bodies, such as water reservoirs, streams, and other ecosystems, where water acquires its primary quality and is further used for drinking, industrial, and other purposes. The final stages of water treatment also occur in nature, i.e., in those water bodies where the wastewater is discharged after some purification in special facilities. Therefore, understanding the natural mechanisms of water quality formation, its purification, and conditioning is of great importance for the optimal organization of the entire water cycle in the broad sense of the word. Previously, the author published a series of articles and books that formulated the theory of biomachinery of water self-purification [4–13, 14, 16, 18, 19]. The purpose of this publication is to summarize a number of these publications. This work is written on their basis, including the article “Conditioning of Water in Nature: How Does It Happen?” published by the author in 2004. Phenomenon of water self-purification and the role of biota therein. Physical, chemical, and biotic processes are important factors responsible for the quality of water and its purification in aquatic ecosystems [1–3, 8, 13, 15, 16]. Many physical and chemical processes are controlled by biological factors or are to some extent subject to their effects. For example, sorption of pollutants by settling suspended particles depends on the concentration of phytoplankton cells; photochemical decomposition of substances requires transparency of water, which is provided in turn by filtering activity of aquatic organisms. Thus, biotic processes and factors are at the center of the entire selfcleaning mechanism of water.
DOI: 10.1134/S107036321713014X
https://5bio5.blogspot.com/2018/02/new-pubication.html ;
ISSN 1070-3632, Russian Journal of General Chemistry, 2017, Vol. 87, No. 13, pp. 3199–3204. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2017.
Original Russian Text © S.A. Ostroumov, 2017, published in Ekologicheskaya Khimiya, 2017, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 175–182.
Water Quality and Conditioning in Natural Ecosystems: Biomachinery Theory of Self-Purification of Water;
S. A. Ostroumov. Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia; Received September 24, 2016;
Abstract—General principles of the theory of polyfunctional role of biota in self-purification of water in aquatic ecosystems have been formulated. The theory includes the following elements: (1) energy sources for self-purification of aquatic ecosystems; (2) main functional units of the self-purification system; (3) main selfpurification processes; (4) contributions of major taxa to self-purification of aquatic ecosystems; (5) reliability of the system and mechanisms ensuring it; (6) self-regulation of biota; (7) response of the system to external stimuli (impacts); (8) analogy between an ecosystem and a bioreactor; (9) conclusions for nature conservation practice. The theory covers both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Keywords: aquatic ecosystems, water supply sources, water quality, self-purification of water, pollution control, filter feeders, aquatic biota, biomachinery, ecological chemoregulators, ecological chemomediators, hydrobiology
INTRODUCTION Continuous accumulation of knowledge in the field of aquatic ecology and biology (see, e.g., [1–3]) and our experimental works (e.g., [4–13]), as well as increased shortage of water of good quality in water supply sources, led to the need to develop general principles of functioning of aquatic ecosystems. At present, the term conditioning is usually associated with air conditioning. However, one can consider conditioning of water, i.e., the achievement of its useful properties. The analysis carried out in the present article makes it possible to get a deeper insight into the vital role of aquatic organisms in preserving water bodies and sources of water supply in a good or, at least, satisfactory condition. Water consumption is a large-scale cycle, including both technological and natural processes. Initial or preliminary stages of water treatment take place in natural water bodies, such as water reservoirs, streams, and other ecosystems, where water acquires its primary quality and is further used for drinking, industrial, and other purposes. The final stages of water treatment also occur in nature, i.e., in those water bodies where the wastewater is discharged after some purification in special facilities. Therefore, understanding the natural mechanisms of water quality formation, its purification, and conditioning is of great importance for the optimal organization of the entire water cycle in the broad sense of the word. Previously, the author published a series of articles and books that formulated the theory of biomachinery of water self-purification [4–13, 14, 16, 18, 19]. The purpose of this publication is to summarize a number of these publications. This work is written on their basis, including the article “Conditioning of Water in Nature: How Does It Happen?” published by the author in 2004. Phenomenon of water self-purification and the role of biota therein. Physical, chemical, and biotic processes are important factors responsible for the quality of water and its purification in aquatic ecosystems [1–3, 8, 13, 15, 16]. Many physical and chemical processes are controlled by biological factors or are to some extent subject to their effects. For example, sorption of pollutants by settling suspended particles depends on the concentration of phytoplankton cells; photochemical decomposition of substances requires transparency of water, which is provided in turn by filtering activity of aquatic organisms. Thus, biotic processes and factors are at the center of the entire selfcleaning mechanism of water.
DOI: 10.1134/S107036321713014X