Transbiotic factors in water environment. Review

Excretion of metabolites is a characteristic feature of any alive organism. A big group of these products - second metabolites - because of their vari ability, quantity and physico-biological activity have a special importance in aquatic environment. Exometabolites of some organisms become an importa nt part of environment for the others. The authors discussed the origin and evolution of exometabolites from simple waste products to biologically act ive substances. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of metabolic excretion by organisms in water conditions are analysed. The data on composition, or igin and biological function of some second metabolites of different groups of aquatic organisms are presented. The authors propose a classification o f second metabolites according to their functional significance. The role o f metabolites and decay products in the development of chemical information streams in hydrobiocoenosis is analysed. Metabolites (soluble organic subs tances) form a field of chemical information for biotic community. The most important functions of this field are communication and conditioning. The authors emphasize the importance of investigations of chemical bioinformati on field in aquatic ecosystems.