On the role and impact of electromagnetic fields in ecosystems

Abstract

Role and effects of electromagnetic field in living organisms and ecosystems are discussed within a nonlinear mechanism of charge transport processes that take place during respiration and photosynthesis, as well as in hydrogen-bonded chains of water molecules. Such mechanism is based on the account of the interaction between charges and induced by the distortions of macromolecules or water chains, which results in the self-trapping of charges in soliton states. It is shown that electrosolitons have some characteristic frequency, with respect to which periodic electromagnetic fields have resonant effect on their dynamics and stability. At certain conditions unbiased (with zero mean-value) periodic electromagnetic radiation can cause drift of solitons along molecular chains, and, therefore, affect charge transport processes. Such drift of particles in unbiased fields is known as ratchet phenomenon. Similar dynamics can be caused by stochastic fields and takes place in water chains present in interfacial water in cells, in coherence domains of water in the atmosphere and oceans. These results can explain the mechanism of impact of the electromagnetic solar activity on metabolism of living organisms and functioning of ecosystems. Moreover, it provides the mechanism for the formation of ecosystems via field-mediated exchange of information between the ecosystem elements and existence of the hierarchy of ecosystems. This study also indicates a possible danger of the electromagnetic smog on ecosystems. © 2011 WIT Press.