http://scipeople.ru/publication/66669/; S. A. Ostroumov. Basics of the Molecular-Ecological Mechanism of Water Quality Formation and Water Self-Purification. - Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 147–152. DOI: 10.1134/S1995425508010177 [ISSN 1995-4255, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.] Key words: modern ecological theory, polyfunctional role, biota, mechanism, water quality, self-purification, aquatic ecosystems, freshwater, marine, sources of energy, structural and functional units, processes, major taxa, reliability, external factors, man-made impact, anthropogenic, pollution, pollutants, biodiversity protection, filter-feeders, bivalves, xenobiotics, organic and inorganic pollutants, synthetic surfactants, detergents, heavy metals, sustainable use, water and biological resources, ecosystem health, ecosystem services, best management Abstract.—The paper formulates basics of a new modern ecological theory of the polyfunctional role of biota in the molecular-ecological mechanism of water quality formation and water self-purification in aquatic ecosystems. The theory covers the following items: (1) sources of energy for self-purification mechanisms, (2) the main structural and functional units of the water self-purification biomachinery, (3) the main processes involved, (4) contributions of major taxa (groups of organisms) to self-purification, (5) system reliability, (6) the response of the system as a whole to external factors (esp. chemical pollution by xenobiotics including both organic and inorganic pollutants), (7) particulars of the operation of water purification mechanisms, and (8) conclusions and recommendations for biodiversity protection practice, and for sustainable use of water and biological resources. The theory was supported by new author’s experiments and recent publications.
Basics of the Molecular-Ecological Mechanism of Water Quality Formation and Water Self-Purification. - Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 147–152.