To explain the processes occurring within our planet, scientists took many hundreds of years. Knowledge gradually accumulated, and theoretical and factual material grew. Today, people manage to find an explanation for many natural phenomena, intervene in their course, change or direct.
The role that the living world plays in all the mechanisms of nature was also not immediately clear. However, the Russian philosopher, biogeochemist V.I. Vernadsky was able to create a theory that has become the basis and remains so to this day. It is she who explains what our entire planet is, what are the relationships in it between all the participants. And most importantly, it is this theory that answers the question about the role of living beings on planet Earth. It is called the theory of the structure of the biosphere of the Earth.
Biosphere and its structure
The scientist proposed calling the biosphere the whole area of the living and nonliving, 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:
- lower atmosphere to the ozone layer;
- the entire hydrosphere;
- the upper level of the lithosphere is soil and lower layers, up to and including groundwater.
That is, these are all those areas that are able to be inhabited by living organisms. All of them, in turn, represent the total biomass, which is called the living substance 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 precisely its main component.
However, in addition to living, there are several more types of substances that make up the Earth’s shell under consideration. These are such as:
- biogenic;
- inert;
- biokosny;
- radioactive;
- space;
- free atoms and elements.
All together, these types of compounds form the environment for biomass and living conditions for it. At the same time, representatives of the kingdoms of nature themselves have a considerable influence on the formation of many types of these substances.
In general, all the indicated components of the biosphere are the total mass of elements that add up the nature. It is they who enter into close interactions, carrying out a cycle of energy, substances, accumulating and processing many compounds. The basic unit is living matter. The functions of living matter are different, but all are very important and necessary to maintain the planet’s natural state.
Founder of the doctrine of the biosphere
The one who created the concept of “biosphere”, developed it, structured it and fully revealed it, had an extraordinary thinking, the ability to analyze and compare facts and data and make logical conclusions. Such a person in his time was V.I. Vernadsky. Great man, naturalist, academician and scientist, founder of many schools. His works became the basic foundation on which all theories are still built.
He is the creator of all biogeochemistry. His merit is the creation of the mineral resource base of Russia (then the USSR). His students were future scientists from Russia and Ukraine.
Vernadsky’s forecasts about the dominant position of people in the organic world system and that the biosphere is evolving into the noosphere have every reason to come true.
Living matter. The functions of the living matter of the biosphere
As we have already indicated above, the whole set of organisms belonging to all the kingdoms of nature is considered to be living matter of the Earth's shell under consideration. A special position among all is occupied by people. The reasons for this were:
- consumer position, not productive;
- development of the mind and consciousness.
All other representatives are living matter. The functions of living matter were developed and indicated by Vernadsky. He assigned the following role to organisms:
- Redox.
- Destructive.
- Transport.
- Environment-forming.
- Gas.
- Energy.
- Informational.
- Concentration.
The most basic functions of the living matter of 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.
Consider each of the functions in more detail to understand what exactly is meant and what is the essence.
The redox function of living matter
It manifests itself in numerous biochemical transformations of substances within each living organism. Indeed, in all, from bacteria to large mammals, every second reactions occur. As a result, some substances turn into others, some decompose into their constituent parts.
The result of such processes for the biosphere is the formation of nutrients. What compounds can be given as an example?
- Carbonate rocks (chalk, marble, limestones) are the product of the life activity of mollusks and many other marine and land inhabitants.
- Silicon deposits are the result of centuries of reactions occurring in the shells and shells of animals on the ocean floor.
- Coal and peat are the result of biochemical transformations occurring with plants.
- Oil and others.
Therefore, chemical reactions are the basis for the creation of 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, then we should indicate its close relationship with the previous one. Simply put, the concentration function of living matter is to accumulate within the body of certain elements, atoms, compounds. As a result, the same rocks, minerals and minerals that are mentioned above are formed.
Each creature is capable of accumulating in itself some kind of connections. However, for all, the severity of this is different. For example, everyone accumulates carbon in themselves. But not every organism is able to concentrate about 20% of iron, as iron bacteria do.
A few more examples can clearly be given that clearly illustrate this function of living matter.
- Diatoms, radiolarians - silicon.
- Rust Mushrooms - Manganese.
- The lobelia plant is bloated - chrome.
- The hodgepodge plant is boron.
In addition to elements, many representatives of living beings are capable of forming entire complexes of substances after dying.
The gas function of a substance
This role is one of the main ones. After all, gas exchange is a life-forming process for all creatures. If we talk about the biosphere as a whole, the gas function of living matter begins with the activity of plants, which, during photosynthesis, capture carbon dioxide and emit a sufficient amount of oxygen.
Enough for what? For the life of all those creatures that are not able to produce it on their own. And these are all animals, fungi, most bacteria. If we talk about the gas function of animals, then it consists in the consumption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide into the environment during breathing.
This creates a general cycle that underlies life. Scientists have proven that over many millennia, plants and other living creatures have managed to completely modernize and adjust the atmosphere of the planet. The following happened:
- oxygen concentration has become sufficient for life;
- an ozone layer has been formed that protects all life from destructive cosmic and ultraviolet radiation;
- the composition of the air has become what is needed for most creatures.
Therefore, the gas function of living matter in the biosphere is considered one of the most important.
Transport function
It implies the reproduction and resettlement of organisms in different territories. There are certain environmental laws that govern the fundamentals of the distribution and transportation of creatures. According to them, each individual occupies its own habitat. There are competitive relationships that lead to the settlement and development of new territories.
Thus, the functions of living matter in the biosphere are reproduction and distribution with the subsequent formation of new traits.
Destructive role
This is another important function that is characteristic of living creatures of the biosphere. It consists in the ability to disintegrate into simple substances after dying off, that is, stopping the life cycle. While the body lives, complex molecules are active in it. When death occurs, the processes of destructuring, disintegration into simple components begin.
This is done by a special group of creatures called detritophages or reducers. These include:
- some worms;
- bacteria
- fungi;
- protozoa and others.
Environment-forming function
The basic functions of living matter would be incomplete if we did not indicate the formation of the environment. 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 matter, they created a fertile layer suitable for life - the soil. The same can be said about the chemical composition of the water of the oceans and seas. That is, living beings independently form life environments for themselves. This is where their environment-forming function in the biosphere is manifested.
Information role of living matter
This role is typical precisely for living organisms, and the higher it is developed, the greater the role it plays as a carrier and information processor. Not a single inanimate object is able to memorize, "write" on the subconscious and subsequently reproduce any kind of information. Only living things can do this.
It is not only about the ability to speak and think. The information function implies the preservation and transmission of certain sets of knowledge and attributes 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 in various forms, starting with solar and ending with thermal and electric.
No one else can accumulate and change radiation from the Sun. The first link here is, of course, plants. They absorb sunlight directly over the entire surface of the green parts of the body. Then they transform it into the energy of chemical bonds available to animals. The latter translate it into different forms:
- thermal;
- electric;
- mechanical and others.