Ostroumov S.A. Trends in modernizing the fundamental concept of ecosystem: self-repairing, self-cleaning, self-reforming, energy-saving, and labile biomachinery. - Ecological Studies, Hazards, Solutions, 2007, v. 12, p. 24-29. http://scipeople.com/publication/99066/; There are various concepts of ecosystem (e.g., Tansley, 1935; Alimov, 2000; Wetzel, 2001). Some authors consider an ecosystem to be a kind of organism or superorganism. Other authors consider it as a mechanism with a structure formed by a certain pattern of transfer of energy and matter. There are many types of ecosystems and possibly all of the various types of definition and vision are adequate in one or another specific situation. Recently, we published our own definition of an ecosystem that seems to be useful in some situations (Ostroumov, 2002c). The goal of this paper is to re-visit the formulations of some of the fundamental concepts underlying the functional organization of ecosystems. As our experience was mainly with aquatic organisms, we plan to use mainly the empirical data of studies of aquatic ecosystems and organisms. We hope that some part of our analysis will be applicable to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Our analysis leads to the following vision of an ecosystem that seems to be applicable to some natural and artificial aquatic ecosystems: we propose to see some of the aquatic ecosystems as self-repairing, self-cleaning, self-reshaping, energy-saving, and labile biomachinery. To support and substantiate this view, we locate some evidence from both our studies and the literature (see Table 1 in the article). The following issues were analyzed in the article: 1. Superorganism, mechanism or biomachinery? 2. Rigid structure or labile entity? We consider the aquatic ecosystem as a labile entity because…< see in the full text of the paper> 3. Energy wasting or energy saving? We consider the aquatic ecosystem as an energy-saving entity because…< see in the full text of the paper> 4. Needing an external repair shop or self-repairing? The aquatic ecosystem as a self-repairing, self-cleaning entity because…< see in the full text of the paper> 5. Paradox of identity: constancy of self-reforming? The aquatic ecosystem as a self-reforming, self-reshaping entity because…< see in the full text of the paper> 6. Sum of elements or hi-technology? 7. A new concept of competitive symbiosis. 8. Entropy and ecological repair. We studied effects of some chemicals on … < see in the full text of the paper> We consider ecological repair in aquatic ecosystems as another example of anti-entropy processes in life systems. 9. Individual elements of ecosystems: independent species or groups of species? We developed a new concept of groups of species that we call ecological clusters (Ostroumov, 2004b). Ecological clusters are…< see in the full text of the paper> The article contribute to the evolution of ecology that is on the verge of revolution in conceptual terms, which is of importance in order to understand and use ecosystem services. Key words: innovations in ecology, ecosystem, fundamental concepts, ecotechnology, biosphere, ecological clusters, entropy, symbiosis, biomachinery, energy-saving, ecological repair, theoretical biology and ecology, superorganism, ecosystem services

New scientific revolution in ecology and hydrobiology: hi-ecological technologies. http://scipeople.com/publication/70236/; S.A.Ostroumov Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow 119991 Published: Ostroumov S.A. New scientific revolution in ecology and hydrobiology: hi-ecological technologies. — Ecological Studies, Hazards, Solutions, 2006, v. 11, p. 22-24. [This is the second draft for the site, with slight additional editing]. Key words: new scientific revolution, ecology, hydrobiology, ecological technology, biotechnology, environmental science, biology, biosphere, fundamental concepts, chemical communication, signals, preventing global change, ecosystems The scientific achievements in several areas of modern science made less visible some important advances made in ecology and environmental science. They are: 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 substantiated a new concept of ecological optimum that is different from the currently accepted. 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). Self-maintenance mechanisms. The relative stability of ecological systems and the biosphere as whole is a surprising fact. The stability of the thermal conditions, 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 of those mechanisms is the ecological mechanism 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 hazard of the first type' and 'the ecological hazard 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 hazard of the second type (1, 4, 6). Concluding remark. 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. Literature - see the attached file.

Ostroumov S. A. On the Concepts of Biochemical Ecology and Hydrobiology: Ecological Chemomediators. - Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 238–244. http://scipeople.com/publication/67236/; ISSN 1995-4255, © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2008. Original Russian Text © S.A. Ostroumov, 2006, published in Sibirskii Ekologicheskii Zhurnal, 2006, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 73–82. Abstract—Earlier, the author published two books (including 'Introduction to Biochemical Ecology', 1986) and some papers, in which he formulated the conceptual foundations of new scientific disciplines — biochemical ecology and biochemical hydrobiology. These trends in research include the studies of the role of chemical substances in interorganismal interactions, in communication and regulation of supraorganismal systems. Another part of biochemical ecology concerns studies of the fate and transformation of external chemical substances when they interact with the organisms. Both natural and man-made compounds are interesting for biochemical ecology. The basic concepts of biochemical ecology include ecological chemomediators and ecological chemoregulators that have already been included in the body of modern conceptions and are used in modern ecological literature. Application of biochemical ecology to aquatic ecosystems creates the basis for development of biochemical hydrobiology.
Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 238–244. ISSN 1995-4255