Bioelement

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As bioelement or biogenic element a is a chemical element designates the in living matter from living organisms is contained, and must be included in inorganic or organic form in these. In addition to carbon , oxygen and hydrogen , the main nutrients nitrogen , phosphorus , sulfur , potassium , calcium and magnesium are essential for plants. In addition to these main nutritional elements, animals also need sodium , iron and chlorine in large quantities.

Magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium and chlorine are often grouped together as so-called macronutrients. In many organisms they only make up around 0.1% of the organic matter, but are essential for central functions.

Some bio-elements are only essential for a few plant species. The Chenopodiaceae need sodium, the Fabaceae with their nitrogen-fixing symbionts need cobalt , and some ferns need aluminum . Some groups of animals also need special bio elements, the are some types Strahlentierchen (Radiolaria) for the formation of skeletal elements strontium instructed. Tunicates (tunicates) require vanadium . Silicon as the second most common element in the earth's crust is only required by a few living things, especially diatoms besides radiolarians . Grasses , sedges and palm trees store large amounts of silicon, which can make up three quarters of the total ash.

In addition to the main nutritional elements, living things also need a number of elements in small quantities, the so-called trace elements . Some authors use the term bio-elements synonymously with trace element. Trace elements are often metals that are contained as cofactors in enzymes .

The proportions of certain bioelements can be characteristic of certain taxa or certain organs and age stages. Most plants contain more phosphorus than sulfur, but cruciferous vegetables (Brassicaceae) contain considerably more sulfur than phosphorus. Salt plants like some Chenopodiaceae , Brassicaceae and Apiaceae contain a lot of sodium, which is usually only contained in traces in other plants.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Nentwig, Bacher, Beierkuhnlein, Brandl, Grabherr: Ecology . Spectrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2004. ISBN 3-8274-0172-0 , pp. 31-33.
  2. ^ A b c Matthias Schaefer: Dictionary of Ecology . 4th edition, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin 2003. ISBN 3-8274-0167-4 , p. 44.
  3. ^ A b Walter Larcher: Ecophysiology of plants . 5th edition, Ulmer, Stuttgart 1994. ISBN 3-8252-8074-8 , pp. 147f.