Biogenic migration of atoms. The cycle of substances and the evolution of the biosphere

Biogenic migration of atoms is a special kind of cycle in the nature of chemical substances, which takes place at the expense of vital processes of living organisms. Life activity is understood as their breathing, nutrition, reproduction, accumulation and splitting of organic elements.

What is the biosphere

Famous for the whole world, Academician VI Vernadsky first introduced the concept of the biosphere. He deciphered it as a living shell of the earth. This area of life appeared as a result of the interaction of living and non-living substances. In this case, all living organisms are the main function of the biosphere and are associated with it in all possible ways.

Living organisms are a collection of all living substances on the planet that exist at the moment. Each of them has its own weight, energy and elementary chemical composition.

According to Vernadsky, all living matter is connected with the environment by the currents of atoms, the biogenic migration of which is due to the action of solar energy.

The main functions of the biosphere are the reproduction, growth and metabolism of living organisms.

Fundamentals of biogenic migration

Biogenic migration of atoms is manifested as a cycle of substances in nature. Biogens are the elements that are involved in this process. This includes substances such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium and many other inorganic compounds.

In fact, in nature there is a huge number of isotopes of chemical elements, but not all of them are part of living organisms.

It is known that all living organisms have a unique feature to accumulate chemical elements and their compounds. At the same time, not only widespread elements can be found in the composition of the living, but also very rare. What is very interesting, their concentration in living matter is much higher than just in the surrounding space. For example, plants contain two hundred times more carbon than it contains the earth's crust, and thirty times more nitrogen.

In this case, each species of living organisms has a different number of chemical elements. For example, iron bacteria accumulate in themselves just a huge amount of iron, while the root extracts accumulate calcium, and the algae - iodine.

Biogenic migration of atoms leads to the fact that under the influence of living organisms the valence of chemical elements can change . And also new types of chemical substances are formed. Approximately forty of the most well-known microelements take an active part in such a process as the biogenic migration of atoms. And man is that direct confirmation.

The law of biogenic migration of atoms

This law was introduced by Academician Vernadsky and has a very important theoretical and practical significance. According to him, all the chemical processes taking place on our planet are closely interrelated with the present and past activities of microorganisms and are impossible without taking into account biogenic and biotic factors. Evolutionary processes can also be included here.

It should be taken into account that people have a very big influence on the Earth's biosphere, in particular, on all of its living population, so they can make significant changes for such a process as biogenic migration of atoms in the biosphere.

According to this law, every living being is an intermediary between the Sun and the Earth. At the same time, considering the constant solar flux, as well as the relative invariance of the planet's energy, it can be concluded that the amount of living matter must be constant. This pattern was described by Vernadsky in his writings.

Biogeochemical cycles

Biogeochemical cycles are a special circulation of chemicals in the biosphere. Here a vital role is played by living organisms. For the life of all living organisms, certain nutrients are needed that can give life. There are two groups of such elements: macrotrophs and microtrophs.

Macrotrophic substances include such components that create the chemical basis of all tissues in living organisms. This includes potassium, calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, magnesium and other elements.

But microtrophic substances include microelements and their compounds, which are necessary for the existence of living organisms in very small quantities. The trace elements include zinc, copper, manganese, chlorine, iron.

In addition, all biogenic or nutrients can be used repeatedly in the biosphere. After all, stocks of biogenic microelements are not constant. Some of their number is connected and is a part of living biomass. And this, in turn, significantly reduces the number of elements remaining in the ecosystem.

If plants and other living organisms did not participate in decomposition processes, then the stock of all nutrients in the world would have been exhausted long ago, which means that life on the planet Earth would have stopped long ago.

Let us consider how the biogeochemical cycles of some elements pass.

Carbon cycle

One of the most important sources of carbon is carbon dioxide, contained in the atmosphere, as well as dissolved in water. This substance is used by plants for the synthesis of organic compounds.

During the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is able to turn plants into nourishing organic substances, which serve as the main food for animals.

Such processes as combustion of fuel, fermentation and respiration, are able to return this substance to the environment. According to estimates of scientists, the atmosphere contains about seven hundred billion tons of this substance, while in the hydrosphere - about fifty thousand billion tons. Every year, as a result of the process of photosynthesis, the growth of plant mass in water and on land amounts to one hundred and eighty and fifty billion tons, respectively.

Cycle of nitrogen

Biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen occur under the influence of various chemical and biological influences. For example, nitrate nitrogen can be converted to proteinaceous, then converted to urea, converted to ammonia and again returned to the nitrate form.

Phosphorus cycle

The simplest biogeochemical cycle in nature is the phosphorus cycle. Its main reserves are contained in rocks that, under the influence of erosion, give up their phosphates to various ecosystems.

Such phosphates use plants, and with their help synthesize organic substances. Plants feed on other organisms. So, when they die and decompose, the phosphates again return to the soil and again serve as fertilizers for the plants.

The biogenic principles of Vernadsky

Biogenic migration of atoms is understood as the movement of substances, as well as their connection along the supply chains of the ecosystem. According to Academician Vernadsky, biogenic migration obeys three very important principles. Consider what the scientist was saying:

1. Biogenic migration always tends to its maximum manifestation.
2. All living substances of the biosphere are in constant and continuous chemical exchange with the cosmos. And also they are created and maintained by the energy of the Sun.
3. Evolution of species, contributing to the emergence of new resistant forms of living organisms, leads to an acceleration of biogenic migration of atoms in the biosphere. This is facilitated by the accelerated transformation of chemical elements.

The concept of biological circulation

For life on Earth to continue indefinitely, all organic matter must rotate along a closed curve.

The biological cycle is the only way to organize life. Due to the disintegration of all organisms, other organisms receive their nourishment. Therefore, every living organism, regardless of its type, is a link in the food chain. Disintegrating, all living beings give their elements to other forms of life. Do not underestimate the role of microorganisms. They transform the remains of animals and plants into organic organic substances used by green plants for the synthesis of new organic matter.

The biological cycle of substances is ensured by the results of decay. Complex compounds begin to disintegrate, releasing energy and losing information, and newly formed inorganic substances begin the whole chain anew. Thanks to microorganisms, the biosphere is capable of natural self-regulation.

The links of the biological cycle are living organisms belonging to different systematic groups. They are able to interact with each other due to a large number of diverse connections. It should be borne in mind that all living matter in the biosphere is involved in the cycle through food chains.

What are the functions of living substances in the biosphere

At the heart of the biogenic migration of atoms is the movement of substances. So, scientists, having analyzed all the properties of such migration, were able to draw conclusions about what functions all living substances on the planet Earth perform. Consider these:

• Energy. Living organisms are able to accumulate nutrients obtained from food by trophic chains.
• Transport. Every organism is capable of carrying organic substances.

• Concentration - organisms accumulate nutrients in the course of their vital activity and use them in the structure of their body.
• Sredoobrazuyuschaya. All living things can transform the chemical and physical parameters of the environment.
• Destructive. Participate in the process of mineralization of inorganic substances.

Evolutionary theory of the origin of life on Earth

Evolution can be called irreversible processes of historical changes in life. This theory is built on four principles:

1. Excessive offspring. All biological species of living organisms reproduce very quickly. However, not all the offspring survive, so all populations are in stability.
2. The struggle for survival also helps control population size.
3. The presence of insignificant differences. Since all living things are individual, some species have a better chance of survival, while others are less likely.
4. Heredity. Hereditary information is transmitted through the parents to the offspring. So, thanks to some hereditary differences, some individuals are more capable of survival than others.

conclusions

Under the biogenic migration of atoms is understood the movement of substances. This process is endless and cyclical, therefore life on Earth exists up to our times. As a result of an active human activity, all the creative processes on the Earth begin to collapse.