A new type of effect of potentially hazardous substances: uncouplers of pelagial–benthal coupling

A new type of effect of potentially hazardous substances: uncouplers of pelagial–benthal coupling. - Doklady Biological Sciences. 2002. Vol. 383 (1-6): 127-130. Bibliogr.15. ISSN 0012-4966. Discovery of a new type of negative impact of pollutants on the biosphere, as a result of inhibition of water filtration by filter-feeders / suspension feeders. The water filtration and associated removal of suspended matter from water is part of migration of matter. As V.I. Vernadsky stressed, organisms are mediators of “biogenic migration of atoms in the biosphere”. This migration is partly implemented in the framework of pelagial–benthal coupling via the activity of filter-feeders, which remove the organic suspended matter from water and excrete pellets. The tables contains the following data: the average percentage of assimilated (16-90%) and non-assimilated (10-84%) food matter for 15 large taxa of invertebrates (Table 1); potassium bichromate inhibited water filtration by mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis (Table 2); surfactants, detergents, pesticides inhibited filtration by filter-feeders, marine and freshwater bivalves and rotifers (Table 3). A prediction is made: "Further research and experimental studies are expected to provide new evidence that sublethal concentrations of chemical pollutants induce a significant decrease in the filtration capacity of freshwater and marine filter feeders" (p.129). "The uncoupling process considered above is an anthropogenic violation of two basic laws (empirical rules or biogeochemical principles) of the biosphere functioning: (1) biogenic migration of atoms of chemical elements in the biosphere always tends toward its maximum expression; (2) on the geological time scale, the evolution of species gives rise to the forms of life that are stable in the biosphere, and is so directed that the biogenic migration of atoms in the biosphere increases" (p.129).]; DOI 10.1023/A:1015385723150;
www.springerlink.com/index/28V23JBFADL1Y100.pdf;
The key issues considered:
effect of pollutants, hazardous substances, uncouplers, pelagial–benthal coupling, new type, negative impact of pollutants, the biosphere inhibition of water filtration, filter-feeders, suspension feeders, removal of suspended matter, V.I. Vernadsky, biogenic migration of atoms, pellets, assimilated and non-assimilated food, large taxa, invertebrates, potassium bichromate, mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, surfactants, detergents, pesticides, marine and freshwater bivalves, rotifers, sublethal concentrations, biogeochemical principles, hazards, bioassays, environmental safety, ecosystem services, water quality, water self-purification