Functions of living matter in the biosphere. The living matter of the planet

"On the terrestrial surfaces No chemical strength, more constantly current, a because and more mighty on their final consequences, how alive organisms, taken v in general", - V. I. Vernadsky wrote about the living matter of the biosphere.

Living matter, according to Vernadsky, performs a cosmic function, connecting the Earth with space and carrying out the process of photosynthesis. Using solar energy, living matter performs gigantic chemical work.

According to Vernadsky, who first considered the functions of living matter in his famous book "Biosphere", there are nine such functions: gas, oxygen, oxidative, calcium, reducing, concentration, the function of destruction of organic compounds, the function of reductive decomposition, the function of metabolism and respiration of organisms.

Currently, taking into account new research, the following functions are distinguished.

energy function

Absorption of solar energy during photosynthesis and chemical energy during the decomposition of energy-rich substances, energy transfer through food chains.

As a result, the connection of biospheric-planetary phenomena with cosmic radiation, mainly with solar radiation, is realized. Due to the accumulated solar energy, all life phenomena on Earth proceed. No wonder Vernadsky called green chlorophyll organisms the main mechanism of the biosphere.

The absorbed energy is distributed within the ecosystem among living organisms in the form of food. Part of the energy is dissipated in the form of heat, and part is accumulated in dead organic matter and passes into a fossil state. Thus, deposits of peat, coal, oil and other combustible minerals were formed.

destructive function

This function consists in the decomposition, mineralization of the dead organic matter, chemical decomposition of rocks, involvement of formed minerals in the biotic cycle, i.e. causes the transformation of living matter into inert. As a result, the biogenic and bioinert substance of the biosphere is also formed.

Special mention should be made of the chemical decomposition of rocks. "We not we have on the Earth more mighty crusher matter, how alive substance"- wrote Vernadsky. Pioneers

life on the rocks - bacteria, blue-green algae, fungi and lichens - have the strongest chemical effect on rocks with solutions of a whole complex of acids - carbonic, nitric, sulfuric and various organic ones. By decomposing certain minerals with their help, organisms selectively extract and include in the biotic cycle the most important nutrients - calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, silicon, microelements.

concentration function

This is the name of the selective accumulation in the course of life of certain types of substances for building the body of an organism or removed from it during metabolism. As a result of the concentration function, living organisms extract and accumulate biogenic elements of the environment. The composition of living matter is dominated by atoms of light elements: hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium. The concentration of these elements in the body of living organisms is hundreds and thousands of times higher than in the external environment. This explains the heterogeneity of the chemical composition of the biosphere and its significant difference from the composition of the inanimate matter of the planet. Along with the concentration function of a living organism of a substance, the opposite to it is released according to the results - scattering. It manifests itself through the trophic and transport activities of organisms. For example, the dispersion of a substance during excretion by organisms, the death of organisms during different kind movements in space, change of covers. Blood hemoglobin iron is dispersed, for example, through blood-sucking insects.

Environment-forming function

Transformation of physical and chemical parameters of the environment (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere) as a result of vital processes in conditions favorable for the existence of organisms. This function is a joint result of the functions of living matter discussed above: the energy function provides energy to all links of the biological cycle; destructive and concentration contribute to the extraction from natural environment and the accumulation of scattered, but vital elements for living organisms. It is very important to note that as a result of the environment-forming function in the geographic envelope, the following major events: the gas composition of the primary atmosphere was transformed, the chemical composition of the waters of the primary ocean changed, a layer of sedimentary rocks formed in the lithosphere, and a fertile soil cover appeared on the land surface. "Organism It has case co environment, To which not only he adapted, but which adapted To him", - this is how Vernadsky characterized the environment-forming function of living matter.

The considered four functions of living matter are the main defining functions. Some other functions of living matter can be distinguished, for example:

- gas function causes the migration of gases and their transformations, provides the gas composition of the biosphere. The predominant mass of gases on Earth is of biogenic origin. During the functioning of living matter, the main gases are created: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, etc. It is clearly seen that gas function is a combination of two fundamental functions - destructive and environment-forming;

- oxidizing - restorative function consists in the chemical transformation mainly of those substances that contain atoms with a variable degree of oxidation (compounds of iron, manganese, nitrogen, etc.). At the same time, biogenic processes of oxidation and reduction prevail on the Earth's surface. Usually, the oxidative function of living matter in the biosphere is manifested in the conversion by bacteria and some fungi of relatively oxygen-poor compounds in the soil, weathering crust, and hydrosphere into oxygen-rich compounds. The reducing function is carried out by the formation of sulfates directly or through biogenic hydrogen sulfide produced by various bacteria. And here we see that this function is one of the manifestations of the environment-forming function of living matter;

- transport function - the transfer of matter against gravity and in the horizontal direction. It has been known since the time of Newton that the movement of matter flows on our planet is determined by the force of gravity. Inanimate matter itself moves along an inclined plane exclusively from top to bottom. Rivers, glaciers, avalanches, screes move only in this direction.

Living matter is the only factor that determines the reverse movement of matter - from the bottom up, from the ocean - to the continents.

Due to active movement, living organisms can move various substances or atoms in a horizontal direction, for example due to various kinds migrations. Movement, or migration, of chemical substances by living matter Vernadsky called biogenic migration atoms or substances.

For a long time it was believed that alive differs from inanimate properties such as metabolism, mobility, irritability, growth, reproduction, adaptability. However, separately all these properties are also found among inanimate nature, and therefore cannot be considered as specific properties of the living.

Features of the living B. M. Mednikov (1982) formulated in the form axioms of theoretical biology:

1. All living organisms turn out to be the unity of the phenotype and the program for its construction (genotype), which is inherited from generation to generation (axiom of A. Weisman) * .

2. The genetic program is formed in a matrix way. The gene of the previous generation is used as a matrix on which the gene of the future generation is built. (axiom of N.K. Koltsov).

3. In the process of transmission from generation to generation, genetic programs change randomly and non-directionally as a result of various reasons, and only by chance can such changes be successful in a given environment. (1st axiom of Ch. Darwin).

4. Random changes in genetic programs during the formation of the phenotype are greatly amplified (axiom of N. V. Timofeev-Resovsky).

5. Repeatedly enhanced changes in genetic programs are subject to selection by environmental conditions (2nd axiom of Ch. Darwin).

From these axioms one can deduce all the basic properties of living nature, and first of all such as discreteness and integrity- two fundamental properties of the organization of life on Earth. Among living systems there are no two identical individuals, populations and species. This uniqueness of the manifestation of discreteness and integrity is based on the phenomenon of convariant reduplication.

Convariant reduplication(self-reproduction with changes) is carried out on the basis of the matrix principle (the sum of the first three axioms). This is probably the only property specific to life, in the form of its existence known to us on Earth. It is based on the unique ability to self-reproduce the main control systems (DNA, chromosomes, genes).

Reduplication is determined by the matrix principle (N. K. Koltsov's axiom) of the synthesis of macromolecules (Fig. 2.4).

Fig. 2.4. Scheme of DNA replication (according to J. Savage, 1969)

Note. The process is associated with the separation of base pairs (adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine: A-T, G-C) and unwinding of the two chains of the original helix. Each strand is used as a template for the synthesis of a new strand

Ability to self-reproduction according to the matrix principle DNA molecules were able to fulfill the role of the heredity carrier of the original control systems (A. Weisman's axiom). Con-variant reduplication means the possibility of inheriting discrete deviations from the initial state (mutations), the prerequisites for the evolution of life.

Living matter in terms of its mass, it occupies an insignificant fraction compared to any of the upper shells the globe. According to modern estimates, the total mass of living matter in our time is 2420 billion tons. This value can be compared with the mass of the Earth's shells, to some extent covered by the biosphere (Table 2.2).

Table2.2

The mass of living matter in the biosphere

Divisions of the biosphere	Weight, t	Comparison
Living matter Atmosphere Hydrosphere Earth's crust

In terms of its active influence on the environment, living matter occupies a special place and qualitatively differs sharply from other shells of the globe, just as living matter differs from dead matter.

VI Vernadsky emphasized that living matter is the most active form of matter in the Universe. It carries out gigantic geochemical work in the biosphere, completely transforming the upper shells of the Earth during its existence. All living matter on our planet is 1/11,000,000 of the mass of the entire earth's crust. In qualitative terms, living matter is the most organized part of the Earth's matter.

When assessing the average chemical composition of living matter, according to A.P. Vinogradov (1975), V. Larcher (1978) and others, the main components of living matter are elements that are widespread in nature (atmosphere, hydrosphere, space): hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur (Table 2.3, Fig. 2.5).

Table2.3

Elementary composition of stellar and solar matter in comparison with the composition of plants and animals

Chemical element
	stellar substance	solar substance	Plants	Animals
Hydrogen (H)
Helium (He)
Nitrogen(N)
Carbon (C)
Magnesium (Md)
Oxygen(0)
Silicon(Si)
Sulfur(S)
Iron(Fe)
Other elements

Fig. 2.5. The ratio of chemical elements in living

matter, hydrosphere, lithosphere and in the mass of the Earth as a whole

The living matter of the biosphere consists of the simplest and most common atoms in space.

The average elemental composition of living matter differs from the composition of the earth's crust by a high carbon content. According to the content of other elements, living organisms do not repeat the composition of their environment. They selectively absorb the elements needed to build their tissues.

In the process of life, organisms use the most accessible atoms capable of forming stable chemical bonds. As already noted, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur are the main chemical elements of terrestrial matter and they are called biofeedback. Their atoms create complex molecules in living organisms in combination with water and mineral salts. These molecular structures are represented by carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. The listed parts of living matter are in close interaction in organisms. The world of living organisms of the biosphere surrounding us is a combination of various biological systems of different structural order and different organizational positions. In this regard, different levels of existence of living matter are distinguished, from large molecules to plants and animals of various organizations.

1.Molecular(genetic) - the most low level, on which the biological system manifests itself in the form of the functioning of biologically active large molecules-proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates. From this level, properties are observed that are characteristic exclusively of living matter: the metabolism that occurs during the transformation of radiant and chemical energy, the transmission of heredity with the help of DNA and RNA. This level is characterized by the stability of structures in generations.

2.Cellular- the level at which biologically active molecules combine to form single system. With regard to cellular organization, all organisms are divided into unicellular and multicellular.

3.Fabric- the level at which a combination of similar cells forms a tissue. It covers a set of cells united by a common origin and functions.

4.Organ- the level at which several types of tissues interact functionally and form a specific organ.

5.Organismic- the level at which the interaction of a number of organs is reduced to a single system of an individual organism. Represented by certain types of organisms.

6.population-species, where there is a collection of certain homogeneous organisms, connected by the unity of origin, way of life and habitat. At this level, elementary evolutionary changes take place in general.

7.Biocenosis and biogeocenosis(ecosystem)-more high level organization of living matter, uniting organisms of different species composition. In biogeocenosis, they interact with each other in a certain area of ​​the earth's surface with homogeneous abiotic factors.

8.biospheric- the level at which the natural system was formed most high rank covering all manifestations of life within our planet. At this level, all cycles of matter occur on a global scale, associated with the vital activity of organisms.

According to the method of nutrition, living matter is divided into autotrophs and heterotrophs.

Autotrophs(from Greek autos - himself, trof - feed, eat) are called organisms that take what they need for life chemical elements from the bone matter surrounding them and do not require ready-made organic compounds of another organism to build their body. The main source of energy used by autotrophs is the sun.

Autotrophs are divided into photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs. Photoautotrophs use sunlight as a source of energy chemoautotrophs use the energy of oxidation of inorganic substances.

Autotrophic organisms include algae, terrestrial terrestrial plants, bacteria capable of photosynthesis, as well as some bacteria capable of oxidizing inorganic substances (chemoautotrophs). Autotrophs are the primary producers of organic matter in the biosphere.

Heterotrophs(from the Greek geter - another) - organisms that need organic matter formed by other organisms for their nutrition. Heterotrophs are able to decompose all substances formed by autotrophs, and many of those that humans synthesize.

Living matter is stable only in living organisms; it tends to fill all possible space with itself. "The pressure of life" called this phenomenon V. I. Vernadsky.

On Earth, of the existing living organisms, the giant puffball mushroom has the greatest reproductive power. Each instance of this fungus can produce up to 7.5 billion spores. If each spore would serve as the beginning of a new organism, then the volume of raincoats already in the second generation was 800 times larger than the size of our planet.

Thus, the most general and specific property alive- the ability to self-reproduce, covariant reduplication based on the matrix principle. This ability, together with other features of living beings, determines the existence of the main levels of organization of living things. All levels of life organization are in complex interaction as part of a single whole. Each level has its own laws that determine the features of the evolution of all forms of organ

lowering of the living. The ability to evolve acts as an attribute of life, directly arising from unique ability living to self-reproduction of discrete biological units. The specific properties of life ensure not only the reproduction of their own kind (heredity), but also the changes necessary for evolution in self-reproducing structures (variability).

Definition of the term biosphere.

Biosphere (from other Greek βιος - life and σφαῖρα - sphere, ball) - the shell of the Earth inhabited by living organisms, under their influence and occupied by the products of their vital activity; "film of life"; global ecosystem of the Earth.

The biosphere is the shell of the Earth inhabited by living organisms and transformed by them. The biosphere began to form no later than 3.8 billion years ago, when the first organisms began to emerge on our planet. It penetrates the entire hydrosphere, the upper part of the lithosphere and the lower part of the atmosphere, that is, it inhabits the ecosphere. The biosphere is the totality of all living organisms. It is home to over 3,000,000 species of plants, animals, fungi and bacteria. Man is also a part of the biosphere, his activity surpasses many natural processes and, as V. I. Vernadsky said: "Man becomes a powerful geological force."

French naturalist Jean Baptiste Lamarck early XIX v. for the first time proposed in fact the concept of the biosphere, without even introducing the term itself. The term "biosphere" was proposed by the Austrian geologist and paleontologist Eduard Suess in 1875.

A holistic doctrine of the biosphere was created by the biogeochemist and philosopher V. I. Vernadsky. For the first time, he assigned to living organisms the role of the main transforming force of the planet Earth, taking into account their activity not only at the present time, but also in the past.

There is another, broader definition: Biosphere - the area of ​​distribution of life on the cosmic body. While the existence of life on space objects other than the Earth is still unknown, it is believed that the biosphere can spread to them in more hidden areas, for example, in lithospheric cavities or in subglacial oceans. For example, the possibility of the existence of life in the ocean of Jupiter's moon Europa is considered.

The concept of living matter.

Living matter is the totality of living organisms in the biosphere, regardless of their systematic affiliation. The term was introduced by V. I. Vernadsky.

This concept should not be confused with the concept of "biomass", which is part of the nutrient.

1 Characteristics of living matter

2 The meaning and functions of living matter

3 See also

4 Literature

5 Notes

Characteristics of living matter[edit wiki text]

The composition of living matter includes both organic (in the chemical sense) and inorganic, or mineral, substances. Vernadsky wrote: The idea that the phenomena of life can be explained by the existence of complex carbon compounds - living proteins, is irrevocably refuted by the totality of empirical facts of geochemistry ... Living matter is the totality of all organisms.

The mass of living matter is relatively small and is estimated at 2.4-3.6·1012 t (in dry weight) and is less than 10−6 of the mass of other shells of the Earth. But it is one of "the most powerful geochemical forces on our planet."

Living matter develops where life can exist, that is, at the intersection of the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. Under conditions that are not favorable for existence, living matter passes into a state of anabiosis.

The specificity of living matter is as follows:

The living matter of the biosphere is characterized by enormous free energy. In the inorganic world, only short-lived, unsolidified lava flows can be compared with living matter in terms of the amount of free energy.

A sharp difference between the living and non-living matter of the biosphere is observed in the flow rate chemical reactions: reactions in living matter are thousands and millions of times faster.

Distinctive feature of living matter is that the individual chemical compounds that make it up - proteins, enzymes, etc. - are stable only in living organisms (to a large extent this is also characteristic of the mineral compounds that make up living matter).

Arbitrary movement of living matter, largely self-regulating. V. I. Vernadsky singled out two specific forms of movement of living matter: a) passive, which is created by reproduction and is inherent in both animal and plant organisms; b) active, which is carried out due to the directed movement of organisms (it is typical for animals and, to a lesser extent, for plants). Living matter also tends to fill all possible space.

Living matter exhibits a much greater morphological and chemical diversity than non-living matter. In addition, unlike inanimate abiogenic matter, living matter is not represented exclusively by a liquid or gas phase. The bodies of organisms are built in all three phase states.

Living matter is represented in the biosphere in the form of dispersed bodies - individual organisms. Moreover, being dispersed, living matter is never found on Earth in a morphologically pure form - in the form of populations of organisms of the same species: it is always represented by biocenoses.

Living matter exists in the form of a continuous alternation of generations, due to which modern living matter is genetically related to the living matter of past eras. At the same time, the presence of an evolutionary process is characteristic of living matter, i.e., the reproduction of living matter occurs not by the type of absolute copying of previous generations, but by morphological and biochemical changes.

Meaning and functions of living matter[edit wiki text]

The work of living matter in the biosphere is quite diverse. According to Vernadsky, the work of living matter in the biosphere can manifest itself in two main forms:

a) chemical (biochemical) - I kind of geological activity; b) mechanical - II type of transport activity.

Biogenic migration of atoms of the first kind is manifested in the constant exchange of matter between organisms and the environment in the process of building the body of organisms, digesting food. Biogenic migration of atoms of the second kind consists in the movement of matter by organisms in the course of its life activity (during the construction of burrows, nests, when organisms are buried in the ground), the movement of living matter itself, as well as the passage of inorganic substances through the gastric tract of soil beetles, silt beetles, filter feeders.

To understand the work that living matter does in the biosphere, three main provisions are very important, which V. I. Vernadsky called biogeochemical principles:

Biogenic migration of atoms of chemical elements in the biosphere always tends to its maximum manifestation.

The evolution of species in the course of geological time, leading to the creation of life forms stable in the biosphere, proceeds in a direction that enhances the biogenic migration of atoms.

Living matter is in continuous chemical exchange with the cosmic environment surrounding it, and is created and maintained on our planet by the radiant energy of the Sun.

Functions of living matter:

1. Energy function

Absorption of solar energy during photosynthesis and chemical energy during the decomposition of energy-rich substances, energy transfer through food chains.

As a result, the connection of biospheric-planetary phenomena with cosmic radiation, mainly with solar radiation, is realized. Due to the accumulated solar energy, all life phenomena on Earth proceed. No wonder Vernadsky called green chlorophyll organisms the main mechanism of the biosphere.

The absorbed energy is distributed within the ecosystem among living organisms in the form of food. Part of the energy is dissipated in the form of heat, and part is accumulated in dead organic matter and passes into a fossil state. Thus, deposits of peat, coal, oil and other combustible minerals were formed.

2. Destructive function

This function consists in decomposition, mineralization of dead organic matter, chemical decomposition of rocks, involvement of the formed minerals in the biotic cycle, i.e. causes the transformation of living matter into inert. As a result, the biogenic and bioinert substance of the biosphere is also formed.

Special mention should be made of the chemical decomposition of rocks. “We do not have on Earth a more powerful crusher of matter than living matter,” wrote Vernadsky. Pioneers

life on the rocks - bacteria, blue-green algae, fungi and lichens - have the strongest chemical effect on rocks with solutions of a whole complex of acids - carbonic, nitric, sulfuric and various organic ones. By decomposing certain minerals with their help, organisms selectively extract and include in the biotic cycle the most important nutrients - calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, silicon, microelements.

3. Concentration function

This is the name of the selective accumulation in the course of life of certain types of substances for building the body of an organism or removed from it during metabolism. As a result of the concentration function, living organisms extract and accumulate nutrients environment. The composition of living matter is dominated by atoms of light elements: hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium. The concentration of these elements in the body of living organisms is hundreds and thousands of times higher than in the external environment. This explains the heterogeneity of the chemical composition of the biosphere and its significant difference from the composition of the inanimate matter of the planet. Along with the concentration function of a living organism, a substance is released that is opposite to it in terms of results - scattering. It manifests itself through the trophic and transport activities of organisms. For example, the dispersion of matter during the excretion of excrement by organisms, the death of organisms during various kinds of movements in space, and the change of covers. Blood hemoglobin iron is dispersed, for example, through blood-sucking insects.

4. Environment-forming function

Transformation of physical and chemical parameters of the environment (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere) as a result of vital processes in conditions favorable for the existence of organisms. This function is a joint result of the functions of living matter discussed above: the energy function provides energy to all links of the biological cycle; destructive and concentration contribute to the extraction from the natural environment and the accumulation of scattered, but vital elements for living organisms. It is very important to note that as a result of the environment-forming function in the geographic envelope, the following major events occurred: the gas composition of the primary atmosphere was transformed, the chemical composition of the waters of the primary ocean changed, a layer of sedimentary rocks formed in the lithosphere, and a fertile soil cover appeared on the land surface. “An organism deals with an environment to which it is not only adapted, but which is adapted to it,” this is how Vernadsky characterized the environment-forming function of living matter.

The considered four functions of living matter are the main defining functions. Some other functions of living matter can be distinguished, for example:

The gas function determines the migration of gases and their transformations, provides the gas composition of the biosphere. The predominant mass of gases on Earth is of biogenic origin. In the process of functioning of living matter, the main gases are created: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, etc. It is clearly seen that the gas function is a combination of two fundamental functions - destructive and environment-forming;

The redox function consists in the chemical transformation mainly of those substances that contain atoms with a variable degree of oxidation (compounds of iron, manganese, nitrogen, etc.). At the same time, biogenic processes of oxidation and reduction prevail on the Earth's surface. Usually, the oxidative function of living matter in the biosphere is manifested in the conversion by bacteria and some fungi of relatively oxygen-poor compounds in the soil, weathering crust, and hydrosphere into oxygen-rich compounds. The reducing function is carried out by the formation of sulfates directly or through biogenic hydrogen sulfide produced by various bacteria. And here we see that this function is one of the manifestations of the environment-forming function of living matter;

Transport function - the transfer of matter against gravity and in the horizontal direction. It has been known since the time of Newton that the movement of matter flows on our planet is determined by the force of gravity. Inanimate matter itself moves along an inclined plane exclusively from top to bottom. Rivers, glaciers, avalanches, screes move only in this direction.

Living matter encompasses and restructures all chemical processes in the biosphere. Living matter is the most powerful geological force, growing with the passage of time. Paying tribute to the memory of the great founder of the doctrine of the biosphere, A. I. Perelman proposed to call the following generalization “Vernadsky’s law”:

“The migration of chemical elements on the earth’s surface and in the biosphere as a whole is carried out either with the direct participation of living matter (biogenic migration) or it proceeds in an environment whose geochemical features (O2, CO2, H2S, etc.) are mainly due to living matter as the one that currently inhabits this system, and the one that has acted on Earth throughout geological history.

Due to active movement, living organisms can move various substances or atoms in a horizontal direction, for example, due to various types of migration. Movement, or migration, of chemical substances by living matter Vernadsky called the biogenic migration of atoms or matter.

The living matter of the biosphere includes both organic (chemical) and inorganic (mineral) components.

More than 90%, formed mainly by oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, are terrestrial vegetation. According to experts, living matter is one of the most "powerful" terrestrial geochemical forces. It develops at the intersection of the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere. Under unfavorable conditions, life processes stop or slow down to such an extent that there are no visible manifestations of life. Thus, a state of anabiosis develops.

Living matter has its own specific features.

First of all, it is characterized by a huge amount of free energy. In the conditions of the inorganic world, short-lived lava flows that have not yet had time to solidify can be equated to living matter (in terms of energy volume).

One of the main features is They in living matter, unlike inanimate matter, flow thousands of times faster.

hallmark is the composition. Living matter includes independent compounds (enzymes, proteins, etc.). These chemical compounds show stability only under favorable conditions. To a large extent, this feature is also characteristic of mineral components.

Living matter makes arbitrary movement. V. I. Vernadsky, believing that this movement is largely self-regulating, singled out two of its special forms. Passive is formed through reproduction and is inherent in both plants and animals. Directed movement of organisms (characteristic to a greater extent for animals than for plants) creates an active form of movement. Living matter is also distinguished by the desire to fill all space with itself.

A characteristic feature is the great chemical and morphological diversity. Living matter, unlike non-living matter, cannot be only a liquid or gaseous medium.

In nature, there are dispersed bodies - individual organisms. They make up living matter. At the same time, it is not found on the planet in one morphologically pure form - in the form of populations of organisms representing one species - it always represents biocenoses.

The continuity of the alternation of generations ensures the genetic connection of modern living matter with what existed in past eras. Wherein feature is an evolutionary process. In other words, reproduction is carried out not on the principle of absolute copying of past generations, but through biochemical and morphological changes.

There are five main functions of living matter.

1. The energy function is the absorption of solar energy during photosynthesis, and during the decomposition of saturated substances - the absorption of chemical energy.
2. In the course of the life of certain species, selective accumulation occurs. This function is called concentration. It can be carried out by a massive increase in the concentration of components in the medium or by specific accumulation of one or another element, regardless of the medium.
3. The destructive function consists in the mineralization of abiogenic organic substances, in the decomposition of inanimate inorganic products, and the involvement of the formed components in the biological cycle.
4. Environment-forming function is a transformation of the physical and chemical parameters of the environment.
5. Due to food interactions, a significant mass of elements moves in the horizontal direction and against

The material composition of the biosphere is diverse. Vernadsky distinguishes seven deeply heterogeneous parts.The following are currently offered

· Living matter , formed by a combination of organisms;

· Bone substance - inanimate, formed without the participation of living organisms (solid, liquid, gaseous it can be) basic rocks, lava of volcanoes, meteorites);

· Bioosseous substance is a combination of living and bone, i.e. bone substance transformed by living organisms (water, soil, silt, weathering crust)

· Biogenic substances are substances necessary for the existence of living organisms. , which is created in the process of vital activity of organisms (gases of the atmosphere, coal, limestone)

· Substance of radioactive decay

· Scattered atoms of terrestrial matter and cosmic radiation

· Substances of cosmic origin in the form of meteorites and cosmic dust.

The living comes only from the living, there is a sharp boundary between them, although they constantly interact.

One of the central links in the concept of the biosphere is the doctrine of living matter. Vernadsky formulates the definition of living matter. Vernadsky called living matter a form of extraordinary activity.

The living matter of the biosphere is a collection of e living organisms. The main purpose of living matter is the accumulation of free energy. In terms of energy reserves, only lava formed during volcanic eruptions can compete with living matter.

We note the main, essentially unique, properties of living matter:

1. The ability to quickly occupy all available space . Vernadsky called this property "the ubiquity of life." The ability to quickly explore space is related to the intensity of reproduction.

2. Movement is not only passive (under the influence of gravitational forces, gravitational forces), but also active(against the current, gravity, air currents)

3. High stability during life, rapid decomposition after death

4. High adaptability (adaptation) to different conditions and in connection with this, the development of all environments of life

5. High rate of reactions. The rate of processing of matter by organisms in the process of life. Food intake is 100-200 times the body weight

6. High rate of renewal of living matter The living matter of the biosphere is updated after 8 years, while the land - 14 years, the ocean - 33 days. As a result of this property, the total mass of living matter that has passed through the biosphere is about 12 times the mass of the Earth. A small part of it is conserved in the form of organic residues, the rest is included in the cycle processes.

All activity of living matter in the biosphere can be reduced to several fundamental functions. Vernadsky singled out 9 , but now the name of these functions has been somewhat changed and some of them have been merged. The classification was proposed by A.V. Lapo (1987)

1. Energy. Associated with the storage of energy in the process of photosynthesis, its transfer through food chains, dissipation.

2. Gas . The ability to change and maintain a certain gas composition of the environment and the atmosphere in general. The biosphere carries out two global processes that determine the gas composition of the atmosphere: the release of oxygen and the absorption of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, as well as the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide during respiration. These processes provide a relative constancy in the atmosphere of two gases that determine the unique conditions of the Earth. So, thanks to carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, the so-called the greenhouse effect significantly softening daily temperature fluctuations. Oxygen plays not only the role of the most important oxidizing agent. At altitudes of about thirty kilometers, it actively absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays. The current level of CO2 content in the atmosphere is 0.03% O2-21%. Two critical periods (Pasteur points) are noted in the development of the biosphere. 1 Pasteur point - when the content of oxygen in the atmosphere has reached 1% of the current level. This led to the appearance of aerobic organisms, i.e. capable of living in an environment containing oxygen. This happened 1.2 billion years ago. 2 point Pasteur - 10% of the current level. This created the conditions for the creation of the ozone layer in upper layers atmosphere and conditions were created for the release of organisms on land (before that, a protective screen from destructive ultraviolet rays was water.)

3. redox . Intensification of oxidation processes, due to the enrichment of the environment with oxygen, and restoration in the process of vital activity of organisms. Thanks to enzymes, redox reactions in living organisms proceed at rates much higher than the rates of reactions occurring in the geological shells of the planet.

4. concentration. The ability of living organisms to accumulate chemical elements in their bodies. The result of this function is mineral deposits. The carbon content in coal is the highest in concentration. Oil is a concentrate of carbon and hydrogen, under high pressure. Phosphorus is accumulated by vertebrates in the bones (Appatites). Cretaceous deposits are of animal origin. They are formed by accumulations of microscopic calcareous shells of marine amoebas. Over millions of years, the Cretaceous deposits undergo gradual crystallization, turning into limestone and marble.

5. destructive . Destruction by organisms and their metabolic products of bone substances and organic residues. Associated with the circulation of substances (fungi and bacteria), as a result, the mineralization of organic matter and its transformation into inert.

6. Transport . The transfer of matter and energy as a result of the active form of movement of organisms. (Migrations and nomads).

7. Environment-forming . Creation of the natural environment and maintenance of its parameters in a relatively stable state. Soil formation process, humus.

8. Scattering . Dissipation of energy by trophic levels, death of organisms during movements in space, change of covers.

very important information function- living organisms and their communities accumulate certain information, fix it in hereditary structures and pass it on to subsequent generations.