| UDC 574 |
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On Biochorologic Subdivisions of the Biosphere |
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| © 2005 A. I. Kafanov |
| Institute of Marine Biology FEB RAS, Vladivostok |
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| Vernadsky’s concept of «life» and «living» differs drastically from the contemporary interpretation of these terms and mean «the sum total of living beings that fulfill their geochemical functions». In general, the term «geographic cover» refers to V. I. Vernadsky’s «biosphere». The term «geographic cover» has basically the same meaning as the term «biosphere», which was initially considered by Vernadsky as a term that referred to geosystems. One should clearly distinguish between the terms «biosphere» and «geomerida». The former refers to the superficial zone of the Earth that houses geochemically active living beings. The latter is the sum total of living things, or, in other words, it is the biocenotic cover of our planet. There are respectively two different classes of biochorological units. The first class comprises geocomplexes (E. Haeckel’s biochores) and V. N. Sukachev’s biogeocenoses – groups of terrestrial or aquatic areas with similar animal and plant populations, whereas the second one includes biocomplexes – groups of taxa or biocenoses that show similar patterns of geographic distribution. There is no biospheric level of organization in biosystems (this term is purely geoecological). |
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| Keywords: biochorological units, biosphere, geomerida, Vernadsky, alive substance. |
| Full text [In Russian] |
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