Living matter: the functions of living matter. Vernadsky's doctrine of the biosphere

To explain the processes taking place within our planet, scientists took many hundreds of years. Gradually accumulated knowledge, grew theoretical and factual material. Today, people manage to find an explanation for many natural phenomena, intervene in their course, change or direct them.

The role played by the living world in all mechanisms of nature was also not immediately clear. However, the Russian philosopher, biogeochemist VI Vernadsky was able to create a theory that became the basis and remains so to this day. It is she who explains what the whole of our planet represents, what are the interrelationships among all the participants in it. And most importantly, it is this theory that gives an answer to the question of the role of living beings on planet Earth. It was called the theory of the structure of the Earth's biosphere.

Biosphere and its structure

Biosphere scientist proposed to call the whole area of the living and inanimate, which is in close contact and as a result of joint activities contributes to the formation of certain geochemical components of nature.

That is, the following structural parts of the Earth enter the biosphere:

• The lower part of the atmosphere to the ozone layer;
• The whole hydrosphere;
• The upper level of the lithosphere is the soil and the lower layers, up to groundwater inclusive.

That is, these are all those areas that can be populated by living organisms. All of them, in turn, represent the total biomass, which is called the living matter of the biosphere. This includes representatives of all the kingdoms of nature, as well as man. The properties and functions of living matter are decisive in characterizing the biosphere as a whole, since it is its main component.

However, in addition to the living one, several other types of substances that form the shell of the Earth under consideration are isolated. These are such as:

• Biogenic;
• Stagnant;
• Biocosic;
• Radioactive;
• Space;
• Free atoms and elements.

All together these types of compounds and form the environment for biomass, the living conditions for it. In this case, representatives of the kingdoms of nature themselves have a considerable influence on the formation of many types of listed substances.

In general, all the designated components of the biosphere are the cumulative mass of nature-folding elements. They come into close interaction, carrying out a cycle of energy, substances, accumulating and processing many compounds. The basic unit is a living substance. The functions of living matter are different, but all are very important and necessary for maintaining the natural state of the planet.

Founder of the doctrine of the biosphere

The one who created the concept of "biosphere", developed it, structured and fully revealed it, possessed an extraordinary way of thinking, the ability to analyze and compare facts and data, and make logical deductions. Such a man at one time became V. I. Vernadsky. A great man, a natural scientist, an academician and scientist, the founder of many schools. His works have become the basic foundation on which all theories are built up to now.

He is the creator of all biogeochemistry. His credit is the creation of the mineral-raw materials base of Russia (then the USSR). His students were well-known scientists of Russia and Ukraine.

Vernadsky's predictions about the primacy of people in the organic world system and the fact that the biosphere evolves into the noosphere have every reason to come true.

A living substance. Functions of the living matter of the biosphere

As we have already indicated, the living matter of the shell of the Earth in question is considered to be the totality of organisms belonging to all the kingdoms of nature. A special position among all is occupied by people. The reasons for this were:

• Consumer position, not production;
• The development of mind and consciousness.

All other representatives are living matter. The functions of living matter were developed and specified by Vernadsky. He assigned the following role to organisms:

1. Oxidation-reduction.
2. Destructive.
3. Transport.
4. Sredoobrazuyuschaya.
5. The gas.
6. Energy.
7. Informational.
8. Concentration.

The most basic functions of living matter in the biosphere are gas, energy and redox. However, the others are also important, providing complex processes of interaction between all parts and elements of the living shell of the planet.

Let's consider each of the functions in more detail to understand what exactly is meant and what is the essence.

Oxidation-reduction function of living matter

It manifests itself in numerous biochemical transformations of substances within each living organism. After all, in all, from bacteria to large mammals, every second reactions occur. As a result, some substances turn into others, some break up into their constituent parts.

The result of such processes for the biosphere is the formation of a nutrient. What kind of connections can be given as an example?

1. Carbonate rocks (chalk, marble, limestone) - a product of the life of mollusks, many other marine and terrestrial inhabitants.
2. Deposits of silicon rocks - the result of centuries of reactions occurring in shells and shells of animals of the ocean floor.
3. Coal and peat are the result of biochemical transformations occurring with plants.
4. Oil and others.

Therefore, chemical reactions are the basis for creating many substances useful to man and nature. This is the function of living matter in the biosphere.

Concentration function

If we talk about the disclosure of the concept of this role of matter, we should point out its close relationship with the previous one. Simply put, the concentration function of living matter is the accumulation within the body of certain elements, atoms, compounds. As a result, the very rocks, minerals and minerals mentioned above are formed.

Every creature is capable of accumulating in itself any connections. However, for all the degree of expression of this is different. For example, everyone accumulates carbon. But not every organism can concentrate about 20% of iron, as do iron bacteria.

There are several more examples that clearly illustrate this function of living matter.

1. Diatoms, radiolarians - silicon.
2. Rust Mushrooms are manganese.
3. Plant lobelia bloated - chrome.
4. The plant is a saltwort - boron.

In addition to elements, many representatives of living beings are capable of forming whole complexes of substances after withering away.

Gas function of substance

This role is one of the main. After all, gas exchange is a life-building process for all beings. If we talk about the biosphere as a whole, the gas function of living matter begins with the activity of plants, which in the process of photosynthesis capture carbon dioxide and secrete a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Sufficient for what? For the life of all those beings who are not capable of producing it themselves. And these are all animals, mushrooms, most bacteria. If we talk about the gas function of animals, it is to consume oxygen and release into the environment carbon dioxide in the process of breathing.

This creates a general cycle that underlies life. Scientists have proved that for many millennia plants and other living beings have managed to completely modernize and adjust the atmosphere of the planet under themselves. The following occurred:

• The oxygen concentration became sufficient for life;
• Formed an ozone layer that protects all life from the harmful cosmic and ultraviolet radiation;
• The composition of the air has become as necessary for most creatures.

Therefore, the gas function of the living matter of the biosphere is considered one of the most important.

Transport function

It implies the breeding and dispersal of organisms in different areas. There are certain environmental laws that govern the basis for the distribution and transport of creatures. According to them, each individual occupies its habitat. There are also competitive relationships that lead to the settlement and development of new territories.

Thus, the functions of living matter in the biosphere are reproduction and dispersal, followed by the formation of new features.

The destructive role

This is another important function that is characteristic of living beings of the biosphere. It lies in the ability to break up into simple substances after withering away, that is, stopping the life cycle. While the organism lives, complex molecules are active in it. When death sets in, processes of destructuring, decay into simple components begin.

This is done by a special group of beings called detritophages or decomposers. These include:

• Some worms;
• Bacteria;
• Fungi;
• Protozoa and others.

Mediating function

The basic functions of living matter would be incomplete if we did not specify the formation of media. What does it mean? We have already pointed out that living beings in the process of evolution created an atmosphere for themselves. They did the same with the environment.

Loosening and saturating the earth with mineral compounds, organic, they created for themselves a livable fertile layer-soil. The same can be said about the chemical composition of the water of the oceans and seas. That is, living beings themselves form their own environments of life. This is how their environment-forming function is manifested in the biosphere.

Information role of living matter

This role is typical for living organisms, and the more highly developed it is, the greater the role it plays as a carrier and information processor. No inanimate object is able to remember, "record" on the subconscious and reproduce in the future information of any kind. Only living beings can do this.

It's not just about speaking and thinking. Information function implies the phenomenon of preservation and transfer of certain sets of knowledge and characteristics by inheritance.

Energy function

Energy is the most important source of power, through which living matter exists. The functions of living matter are manifested, first of all, in the ability to process the energy of the biosphere into various forms, from solar to thermal and electrical.

No one else can accumulate and change radiation from the Sun. The first link here, of course, are plants. It is they who absorb sunlight directly by the entire surface of the green parts of the body. Then it is converted into energy of chemical bonds, accessible to animals. The latter translate it into different forms:

• Thermal;
• Electric;
• Mechanical and others.