[Transparent evolution of the energy/matter interactions on earth: from gas whirlwind to technogenic civilization].

The paper presents the idea of transparent evolution through the long-term reaction of the planet Earth on the external flow of radiant energy from the Sun. Due to limitations of matter on Earth, as well as on any other planet, the continuous pumping flow of radiant energy was shown to lead to cyclization and transport of substance on emerging gradients. The evolution of energy-matter interaction follows the path of capturing and transferring more energy by the fewer matter, i.

Management and control of microbial populations' development in LSS of missions of different durations.

The problem of interaction between man and microorganisms in closed habitats is an inextricable part of the whole problem of co-existence between macro- and microorganisms. Concerning the support of human life in closed habitat, we can, conventionally, divide microorganisms, acting in life support system (LSS) into three groups: useful, neutral and harmful. The tasks, for human beings for optimal coexistence with microhabitants seem to be trivial: (1) to increase the activity of useful forms, (2) decrease the activity harmful forms, (3) not allow the neutral forms to become the harmful ones and even to help them to gain useful activity.

Population dynamics of transgenic strain Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 in freshwater and saline lake water microcosms with differing microbial community structures.

Populations of Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7, a transgenic microorganism, were heterogenic in the expression of plasmid genes when adapting to the conditions of water microcosms of various mineralization levels and structure of microbial community. This TM has formed two subpopulations (ampicillin-resistant and ampicillin-sensitive) in every microcosm. Irrespective of mineralization level of a microcosm, when E.

Kinetic characteristics of the theoretical ecosystems with different extent of openness.

In this paper, the influence of the extent of openness of ecosystem that is defined by the dilution rate, which characterizes the extent of flowage of the pond, on the intensity of the biotic circulation in ecosystems with different regulation types, number of trophic links and extent of closing has been investigated. We considered open systems, we took into account the return of the limiting substances, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, into the cycle by degradation of detritus and products of vital functions of consumers. It was shown by the numerical calculations that the increase of the dilution rate in without recycle ecosystems leads to increase of the net primary production up to the maximum value corresponding to the two-link trophic chain (biogenic substance and producer) and then, to gradually decrease.

Principles of biological adaptation of organisms in artificial ecosystems to changes of environmental factors.

Studying material transformations and biotic cycling in artificial ecosystems (AES), we need to know the principles of biological adaptation of active organisms to change in the environment. Microorganisms in AES for water purification are the most active transforming organisms and consumers of the organic substances contained in wastes. Utilization of organic substances is directly connected with the energy fluxes used by AES.

Quantitative criteria for estimation of natural and artificial ecosystems functioning.

Using biotic turnover of substances in trophic chains, natural and artificial ecosystems are similar in functioning, but different in structure. It is necessary to have quantitative criteria to evaluate the efficiency of artificial ecosystems (AES). These criteria are dependent on the specific objectives for which the AES are designed.

Increase of atmospheric CO2: response patterns of a simple terrestrial man-made ecosystem.

Simple models of terrestrial ecosystems with a limited number of components are an efficient tool to study the main laws of functioning of populations, including microbial ones, and their communities, as components of natural ecosystems, under variable environmental conditions. Among other factors are the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and limitation of plants' growth by biogenic elements. The main types of ecosystems' responses to changes in environmental conditions (a change in CO2 concentration) have been demonstrated in a "plants-rhizospheric microorganisms-artificial soil" simple experimental system.

Experimental evaluation of the processes resulting from the introduction of the transgenic microorganism Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 (lux+) into aquatic microcosms.

The processes resulting from the introduction of the tranagenic microorganism (TM) E. coli Z905/pPHL7 into aquatic microcosms have been modeled experimentally. It has been shown that the TM E.

Survival and alteration of the plasmid-containing microorganism Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 introduced into manmade closed aquatic microcosms.

It has been demonstrated that the transgenic microorganism Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 (AprLux+) can exist for a long time at an elevated concentration of mineral salts. The microorganism was introduced into microcosms with sterile brackish water (salinity variable from 21 to 22 g l-1) taken from Lake Shira (Khakasia, Russia). The survival of the microorganism was estimated both by measuring the growth of the colonies on solid nutrient media and by the bioluminescence exhibited by the transgenic strain in samples from the microcosms and in the enrichment culture with the added selective factor-ampicillin (50 micrograms/ml).

The effect of cannibalism intensity on net primary production and dynamics of trophic links in aquatic ecosystems.

A mathematical model was used to investigate the effect of cannibalism intensity on the net primary production and the dynamics of trophic links in an aquatic ecosystem characterized by cannibalism at the upper trophic level. A mathematical model of an aquatic ecosystem has been constructed, with the following principal trophic links: limiting nutrient concentration, producers (phytoplankton), nonpredatory and predatory zooplankton. The model takes into account the age structure of the predator and includes two age groups (the young and adults).

System analysis of links interactions and development of ecosystems of different types.

The anthropogenic impact on the Earth's ecosystems are leading to dramatic changes in ecosystem functioning and even to destruction of them. System analysis and the use of heuristic modeling can be an effective means to determine the main biological interactions and key factors that are of high importance for understanding the development of ecosystems. Cycling of limiting substances, induced by the external free energy flux, and trophic links interaction is the basis of the mathematical modeling studies presented in this paper.

[Mathematical model of the interaction of components in a plant-rhizospheric microorganisms system at the higher level of carbon dioxide in atmosphere].

A mathematical model describing the interaction of plants and rhizospheric microorganisms on complete mineral medium at a higher CO2 level in the atmosphere was constructed. The positive effect of CO2-enrichment on the system plant--rhizospheric microorganisms was shown. The effect of rhizospheric microorganisms on plant growth at normal and high level of carbon dioxide was demonstrated.

[Stability of recombinant plasmids in transgenic microorganism cells under various environmental conditions].

The copy number of R plasmids weakly depends on the selective pressure of the respective antibiotic but does depend on the physiology of the host species and the type of plasmids and cloned genes, whose expression leads to a further load on the biosynthetic apparatus of cells. The last factor is critical in the maintenance of recombinant plasmids in transgenic microorganisms.

Effect of bacterial population density on germination wheat seeds and dynamics of simple artificial ecosystems.

Effect of the size of rhizospheric bacterial populations on germination of seeds and development of simple terrestrial "wheat plants--rhizospheric microorganisms--artificial soil" and "wheat plants-artificial soil" systems has been studied. Experiments demonstrated that within specify ranges in the inoculate, the rhizospheric bacteria are capable of increasing the yield of germinated seeds and stimulate the growth of plantlets. Germination of seeds inoculated with bacteria was either stimulated, or inhibited or remained at control levels depending on the amount of bacteria.

On monitoring the bacterial component as an indicator of the state of small man-made ecosystems.

High reproduction rates make the bacterial component of ecosystems a good indicator of the state of the system on the whole. This determines the necessity to develop rapid monitoring of the functional state of the bacterial component of small ecosystems. Information about substrate concentration in the population is indicative of the state of the bacterial culture.

Competition between links in "producer-consumer" trophic chains in an aquatic closed system with spatially separated components.

The work analyzes functioning of a "producer-consumer" closed aquatic system with spatially separated links, where each component consisted of two species. Producers in the system were the microalgae of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp., consumers--Paramecium caudatum infusoria and Brachionus sp.

Mathematical modeling of response of ecosystems with different structure to external impact.

A mathematical model was used to study the response of ecosystems of different structures to external impact. The response was measured as a sensitivity coefficient: the magnitude of the system's response vs. the change of the factor in the inflow.

Computer modeling of the biotic cycle formation in a closed ecological system.

The process of biotic turnover in a closed ecological system (CES) with an external energy flow was analyzed by mathematical modeling of the biotic cycle formation. The formation of hierarchical structure in model CESs is governed by energy criteria. Energy flow through the ecosystem increases when a predator is introduced into a "producer-reducer" system at steady state.

Population dynamics of transgenic microorganisms in the different microecosystem conditions.

The role of key environmental factors in adaptation of spore-forming and non-spore-forming transgenic microorganisms (TM) have been studied in model ecosystems. Model TM Escherichia coli Z905 (bearing plasmid genes of bacterial luminescence Ap (r) Lux+) has been found to have a higher adaptation potential than TM Bacillus subtilis 2335/105 (bearing genes of human alpha 2-interferon Km (r) Inf+), planned for employment as a living vaccine under varying environmental conditions. Effects of abiotic factors on migration of natural and recombinant plasmids between microorganisms under model ecosystem conditions has been estimated.

Functional, regulatory and indicator features of microorganisms in man-made ecosystems.

Functional, regulatory and indicator features of microorganisms in development and functioning of the systems and sustaining stability of three man-made ecosystem types has been studied. 1) The functional (metabolic) feature was studied in aquatic ecosystems of biological treatment of sewage waters for the reducer component. 2) The regulatory feature of bacteria for plants (producer component) was studied in simple terrestrial systems "wheat plants-rhizospheric microorganisms-artificial soil" where the behavior of the system varied with activity of the microbial component.

Closed Artificial ecosystems as a means of ecosystem studies for Earth and space needs.

Closed Artificial ecosystems (CAES) have good prospects for wide use as new means for quantitative studies of different types of both natural ecosystems and man-made ones. The paper deals with the discussion of three points of CAES applications. The first one is of importance for theoretical ecology development and is connected with bringing together "holistic" and "merological" approaches in ecosystems studies.

Methodology of biospherics for theoretical sciences and practical use.

This article deals with some methodological aspects of biospherics connected with theoretical sciences development and prospective use for practical application. Properties of experimental objects, methods and goals of biospherics as synthesising science have been discussed. The problem of stability of incomplete (natural and artificial) ecosystems has been considered.

Small artificial ecosystems: response to variation of environmental factors (CO2 enrichment).

Response of "wheat plants--rhizospheric microorganisms--artificial soil"--a simple terrestrial ecosystem--to carbon dioxide increased in its atmosphere to 0.06% has been studied. It has been experimentally demonstrated that a simple ecosystem develops and functions different from its individual elements (components), in this case "plants-artificial soil" without microorganisms.