Fundamental role of biological filtering in self-purification (and self-bioremediation, self-organization, as well as stability) of aquatic ecosystems: New facts and ideas.

It is the first paper in which a synthesis of both author`s new experimental data and international literature was made, which led to a new broad picture of the fundamental role of biological filtering in self-purification (and self-bioremediation, self-organization, as well as stability) of aquatic ecosystems.

Abstract
According to one of approaches to the definition of criteria for the phenomenon of life, the key attribute is the ability of the life system for some self-regulating and self-supporting. Part of such holistic functions of aquatic ecosystems as self-regulating and self-supporting is their cleaning the water via a multitude of various mechanisms. The goal of this paper is to present some fundamental elements of the theory of ecosystem self-purification (water self-purification) which emphasizes the importance of the four functional biological filters that are instrumental in purification and upgrading the quality of water in aquatic ecosystems. These functional filters are: (1) direct water filtering by aquatic organisms that are filter-feeders; (2) the filter (represented mainly by communities of aquatic plants/periphyton) which prevents input of pollutants and biogenic elements (N, P) from land into water bodies and water streams; (3) the filter (represented by benthic organisms) which prevents re-entry of pollutants and biogenic elements from the bottom sediments into the water; (4) the filter (represented by microorganisms attached to particles which are suspended in the water) that provides microbiological treatment of the water column. New experimental data by the author reveal the negative role of man-made effects on the ecological machinery which purifies water. The analysis and discussion lead to the holistic theory of the natural process of bioremediation of aquatic ecosystems.

(Источники фотографий: aquamir.by, katarsys-alva.livejournal.com, volimo.ru)

Reference
Ostroumov S.A. Biological filtering and ecological machinery for self-purification and bioremediation in aquatic ecosystems: Towards a holistic view. - Rivista Di Biologia-Biology Forum, 1998, Volume: 91, Issue: 2, Pages: 221-232.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/42830557

Key words: self-regulating, self-supporting, aquatic ecosystems, theory, ecosystem, self-purification, upgrading, quality of water, water filtering, aquatic organisms, filter-feeders, communities, aquatic plants, periphyton, pollutants, biogenic elements, N, P, benthic, organisms, microorganisms, particles which are suspended in the water, microbiological treatment, water column, man-made effects, natural, process, bioremediation

***
Саморегуляция, самоподдержание, водные экосистемы, теория, самоочищение, экосистемы, улучшение, качество воды, фильтрация воды, водные организмы, фильтраторы, сообщества, водные растения, перифитон, загрязняющие вещества, биогенные элементы, N, P, бентосные организмы, микроорганизмы, взвешенные в воде частицы, микробиологическая очистка, столб воды, техногенные воздействия, естественные процессы, биоремедиация


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