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Ecological Studies, Hazards, Solutions, 2006, Vol

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William Wordsworth 1770-1850
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William Wordsworth 1770-1850



The scientific achievements in several high-profile areas of modern science made less visible some important advances that were recently made in ecology and environmental science. They are:

1. Re-visiting some basic concepts. Several fundamental notions of ecology are undergoing a significant change. E.g., among the basic concepts of ecology is the concept of ecological optimum associated with many ecological factors. According to that concept, each or almost each of ecological factors there is some optimum (say, optimal temperature etc.), at which organisms of the given species feel most comfortable and demonstrate maximum productivity. The research done by Professor A. S. Konstantinov (his presentation at this session, Aquatic Ecosystems, Organisms, Innovations, Moscow, 2005) (12) demonstrated that this concept is no longer correct. He proposed and substanciated a new concept of ecological optimum that is different from the currently accepted.

2. Information network in the biosphere. We see now that the biological communities are not only the trophic webs but also networks of the information flows. The information channel are based on several types of communication: physical (optical, acoustical, possibly electromagnetic), and chemical (chemical signals). The details of the chemical communication were analyzed in our publications (9-11).

3. Self-maintenance mechanisms. The relative stability of ecological systems and the biosphere as whole is a surprising fact. The stability of the thermal conditions and climate, the stability of the biotic communities, the stability of the chemical composition of water are important things that cannot be taken for granted. There are some complex ecological mechanisms behind those facts of stability. One group of those mechanisms is the group of the ecological mechanisms for hydrosphere stability including the mechanisms for water self-purification in freshwater bodies and streams, as well as in marine systems. It was described in (8).

Practical applications. There are several interrelated ways of practical usage of new ecological knowledge.

Example 1: phytoremediation. More detail, in (3).

Example 2: preventing global change. It was shown that the global change is prevented or mitigated by a number of ecological or biogeochemical processes (5,7). Those processes and the biota which is the driving force for the processes should be better studied and protected.

Example 3: preventing new potential forms of terrorism (bioterrorism, ecoterrorism). Usually the term 'bioterrorism' is interpreted as something to do with harmful microorganisms and other infectious agents, including genetically constructed. They are dangerous, but the prophylaxis of bioterrorism must cover a broader range of potential threats. In our ecological analysis, we found the threats that we designated as 'the ecological bomb of the first type' and 'the ecological bomb of the second type' (1, 4, 6). Those threats are to be better studied and we are looking for sponsorship in studying them and the ways to counter the threats. We already discovered important biotic mechanisms that serve as a beneficial remedy to prevent the threat of the ecological bomb of the second type (1, 4, 6).

Concluding remarks. The common denominator of many of the ecological mechanisms mentioned above is that they meet the criteria that we formulated in some of our recent publications as the criteria for a hi-tech device in the field of technology. Hence, we can consider some ecological mechanisms (involved in information transfer, in self-purification etc) as ecological analogy of high technology. We suggest to use the term 'hi-ecological technologies' that we can found in natural ecosystems; we may create them in artificial ecosystems. The systems for phytoremediation is a good example.

The current scientific revolution in ecology will have enormous practical importance. For as it has been remembered since 1831, "Speculations apparently the most unprofitable have almost invariably been those from which the greatest practical applications have emanated" (John Frederick William Herschel, famous astronomer, 1792-1871) (italicized by S.A.O.).

Literature

1.Ostroumov S.A. Integrity-oriented approach to ecological biomachinery for self-purification and bioremediation in aquatic ecosystems: stopping an ecological time bomb. Limnology and Oceanography: Navigating into the Next Century. February 1-5, 1999, Santa Fe, New Mexico. ASLO, Waco, TX. 1999. P. 134.

2. Idem. Role of aquatic organisms in preventing global change // Ecological Studies, Hazards and Solutions. 2000. Vol. 3. M.: MAX Press. P.24.

3. Idem. 2001. Biological Effects of Surfactants on Organisms. MAX Press, Moscow. 334 p.

4. Idem. Two types of ecological bomb // Ecol. Stud., Problems, Solutions, 2003, vol. 6. P.36.

5. Idem. On the role of the biota (ecological and hydrobiological factors) in the regulation and stabilization of biospheric, geochemical, and geophysical processes and parameters. Vestnik of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. 2003, Vol.3, No. 2, P.59-62.

6. Idem. Facts and concepts of ecology 3. Ecological bomb of the second type. // Ecological Studies, Hazards, Solutions. 2004. Vol. 7. P. 115-119.

7. Idem. Searching approaches to solving the problem of global change: elements of the theory of the biotic-ecosystem mechanims of the regulation and stabilization of parameters of the biosphere, geochemical and geological environment // Vestnik MGU (Bulletin of Moscow Univ.). Ser. Biol. 2005. No. 1. P.24-33.

8. Idem. Pollution, self-purification and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Мoscow: МAX Press. 2005. 100 p.

9. Idem. Introduction to Bio-Chemical Ecology.1986.M.:Moscow University Press.176 p.

10. Telitchenko M.M., Ostroumov S.A. Introduction to Problems of Bio-chemical Ecology: Biotechnology, Agriculture, Environment. 1990. Nauka Press, Moscow. 288 p.

11. Ostroumov S.A. Concepts of biochemical ecology: ecological chemomediators, ecological chemoregulators, ecological chemoeffectors // Ecological Studies, Hazards, Solutions. 2003. Vol. 6. P.105-107.

12. Konstantinov A. S.  Presentation at this session, Aquatic Ecosystems, Organisms, Innovations, Moscow, 2005.


FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES FOR RESTORING WATER STREAMS: FROM ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS TO PRACTICAL WORK p.24-25.