Chapter 1 - Introduction To Environmental Microbiology

ENVIRONMENTAL
MICROBIOLOGY
APPLIED & ENVIRONMENTAL

MICROBIOLOGY
Applied microbiology is the
interaction of the microbial world
and the rest of the world
genetic variances
microbial effect on soil, water, our
food
Microorganisms are present in most
every aspect of our lives
microorganisms are critical to our
survival on Earth
To be a successful ecosystem on
Earth, youd best be nice to the
microorganisms!
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY:
RELATIONSHIP OF MICROORGANISMS
WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR
ENVIRONMENT
Ecosystem: interaction of
living and non-living
components
oceans, deserts,
marshes, forests, tundra,
lakes
microorganisms play a
key role in ecosystem
structure
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY:
RELATIONSHIP OF MICROORGANISMS WITH
EACH OTHER AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
Microenvironment: immediately
surrounds a microorganism
relevant to survival and
growth of the microorganism
NUTRIENT ACQUISITION WITHIN AN

ECOSYSTEM
3 main levels exist in every ecosystem in
regards to nutrient acquisition
1. producer
2. consumer
3. decomposer

ECOSYSTEM
1. Primary producers:
convert CO2 to
organic material

ECOSYSTEM
2. Consumers
heterotrophs
utilize organic
material created by
producers
NUTRIENT ACQUISITION WITHIN

ECOSYSTEM
3. decomposers
heterotrophs
digest leftovers of primary
producers and consumers
detritus ( fresh or partially
decomposed organic
matter)
bacteria and fungi are key

players in the process of
decomposition
LOW NUTRIENT ENVIRONMENTS:

COMMON IN NATURE
Bacteria do best in biofilms
if nutrition availability is low
biofilms are a polysaccharide
encased community of
microorganisms(Surface
attached community of
bacterial cells) Form In aqueos
enviroment etc;Rivers,ocean
microorganisms extract
nutrients that are absorbed by
water from air or nutrients that
are adsorbed onto the biofilm
TYPES OF INTERACTION
Interaction
Interaction
Interaction
Interaction
with
with
with
with
other microbes
plants
animals
human
MICROBIAL COMPETITION AND

ANTAGONISM
Most environments are suitable to many kinds of
microorganisms
Only one or a few can actually occupy the
environment at a given time
COMPETITION AND ANTAGONISM:

AMONG MICROORGANISMS
Competition:
fierce competition for nutrients and water
the faster a microbe reproduces the larger the
population
the larger population competes better
critical, especially if the microorganisms competing utilize
similar nutrients
Antagonism
The method of using established cultures of
microorganisms to prevent the intrusion of foreign
strains. When introduced to an already-colonized
environment, an invasive strain of bacteria tends not to
thrive and may go completely extinct .
bacteriocins: protein produced by bacteria that
destroys similar strains
EXAMPLE OF COMPETITION
Stability of microbial community in human intestine
is attributed to competition and antagonism
amongst its members
compete nicely for nutrients
produce toxins to limit growth of new microbes
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AFFECT

MICROBIAL POPULATION
Environmental fluctuations are common and
resident microorganisms may respond by
producing enzymes to help adapt to changing
environment
additional or different enzymes may be necessary for survival
mutation
domination by other species (cant compete any more)
MICROBIAL MAT:
THICK, DENSE, ORGANIZED BIOFILM
generally found attached to a solid substrate or
at air-water interfaces
Microbial mat attached to

rocks
Microbial mat in stream bed
THE STUDY OF MICROBIAL ECOLOGY

somewhat difficult to
accomplish
less than 1% of environmental
microorganisms can be
successfully cultured in the lab
MICROBIAL HABITAT
aquatic
Example marine:
deep waters are usually stable and consistent
shoreline habitat varies due to nutrient rich run-off
MICROBIAL HABITAT
Freshwater:
Example: lakes
algae
stratification allows for the mixing of the water seasonally.
Increases the presence of O2 in the deeper H2O
paramecium
MICROBIAL HABITAT
Moving water
Example: rivers
generally aerobic due to
turbulence facilitating O2
circulation
river ostracod
MICROBIAL HABITAT
Terrestrial
microorganisms are critical to soil habitat
composition of microbes is dependent on soil conditions
wet soil: anaerobic conditions due to water filling the pore
space in the soil, soil dries and microbes go produce
endospores for survival
Endospores
MUTUALISM WITH EUKARYOTES

Mychorrhizae: fungus
assist plants in the uptake of phosphorous
mychorrizae gain nutrient from plant
MUTUALISM
nitrogen fixers: fix
nitrogen and make it
available for the use by
their partner plant
most common is
Rhizobium, a
microorganism found in
many root nodules
Rhizobium in root nodules
NITROGEN CYCLE
CARBON CYCLE
PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE
MUTUALISM: MICROORGANISMS AND

THE WORLD
Microorganisms and herbivores
animal with a rumens (cow) or cecums (horse)
need microorganisms to digest the plant food
they ingest
Bacillus in a
cow rumen
MICROORGANISMS IN SEWAGE
TREATMENT
Decreasing
biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD)
decreases impact of
sewage on the
environment
BOD is the amount of
O2 needed for
microbial
decomposition of the
organic material in a
sample
Grit chamber
Biological filter
Clarifier
TREATMENT
not treated the high BOD found in sewage could
deplete the O2 level in the receiving water
If
in other words if raw sewage is deposited into a

lake or stream without treatment, it would
effectively suck the oxygen out of the water,
leaving very little for the fish and other organisms
TREATMENT
sewage treatment is a controlled process
that strives to eliminate the excess
organic material, thus diminishing the
BOD
most of the removal of organic matter is done
by microorganisms
bacterial filaments
MICROORGANISMS AND WATER

TREATMENT AND TESTING
Municipal water
supplies are tested
and treated for the
removal of pathogenic
microorganisms and
chemicals
this is done with the use
of chemicals
MICROORGANISMS AND SOLID

WASTE TREATMENT
The elimination of organic waste
material can be enhanced by
microorganisms
increase cost to separate organic
material from inorganic (glass, metal,
plastic)
composting: natural decomposition of
organic solid materiel results in
excellent fertilizer
COMPOST
Microorganisms are
needed to breakdown
the organic material
BIOREMEDIATION:
USE OF MICROORGANISMS TO ELIMINATE OR
MAKE HARMLESS POLLUTANTS IN AN
ENVIRONMENT
Pollutants
removed can
include
organic solvents
toxic chemicals
hydrocarbons
oil spill

Chapter 1 - Introduction To Environmental Microbiology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 1 - Introduction To Environmental Microbiology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 1 - Introduction To Environmental Microbiology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ENVIRONMENTAL

APPLIED & ENVIRONMENTAL

NUTRIENT ACQUISITION WITHIN AN

NUTRIENT ACQUISITION WITHIN AN

NUTRIENT ACQUISITION WITHIN AN

NUTRIENT ACQUISITION WITHIN

bacteria and fungi are key

LOW NUTRIENT ENVIRONMENTS:

MICROBIAL COMPETITION AND

COMPETITION AND ANTAGONISM:

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AFFECT

Microbial mat attached to

Microbial mat in stream bed

THE STUDY OF MICROBIAL ECOLOGY

MUTUALISM WITH EUKARYOTES

Rhizobium in root nodules

MUTUALISM: MICROORGANISMS AND

in other words if raw sewage is deposited into a

MICROORGANISMS AND WATER

MICROORGANISMS AND SOLID

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.