Microbiology Written Question

Question #4: What is an ecosystem? What effects can microorganisms have on their
ecosystems? (pg.24)

Caroline Hernandez-Casner
800#: 80538131
09/07/2015

Microorganisms differ from each other, and so do their immediate environments,

or habitats. Their habitat and communities are based on resources available and
conditions that prevail in that community (Madigan et al. 6). Collectively, we call all
living organisms, together with the physical and chemical components of their
environment, an ecosystem, (Madigan et al. 6). Therefore, microorganisms arent the
only things that make up an ecosystem but they can have major effects on their
ecosystems.
As mentioned above an ecosystem is defined as an environment and the
organisms that inhabit it, (Anderson et al. G-6); essentially, anything can be an
ecosystem so long as there are different organisms that interact with each other, living in
the same environment. Major microbial ecosystems are aquatic, terrestrial and higher
organisms (Madigan et al. 6). So to elaborate, an aquatic ecosystem usually consists of
lakes, oceans, rivers, or essentially anything that involves a body of water. Terrestrial
ecosystems are the complete opposite of aquatic ecosystems. They include areas that
have soil, or are basically anything on land. A higher organisms ecosystem refers to in
or on plants and animals (Madigan et al. 6). Although each of these ecosystems differ
greatly they can equally be effected by the microorganisms that occupy them.
Microorganisms can affect the ecosystem they live in. An example of this would
be microorganism in the terrestrial ecosystem. Gram-positive bacteria are more
abundant in soil environments and they sometimes produce geosmins, which give soil
its characteristic musty odor (Anderson et al. 727). Another example would be,
cyanobacteria, a type of microorganism that lives in aquatic ecosystems. They are major
resources for the worlds oxygen supply because they are responsible for most of the
worlds photosynthesis production, (The Microbial World). They are also responsible for
the carbon dioxide regulation on earth, which can either positively affect the ecosystems
or negatively affect them, depending on the abundance of cyanobacteria. One more
example would be, microorganisms that carry out metabolic processes because they
remove nutrients form the ecosystem and use them to build new cells; they also
release waste back to their habitat, which could be harmful, (Madigan et al. 6). All
microorganisms have metabolic activities and are found everywhere, therefore they can
change their ecosystem, either negatively or positively, depending on the given situation
and which ecosystem they are a part of.

Works Cited
Madigan, Michael T., John M. Martinko, Kelly S. Bender, and David A. Stahl. Brock
Biology of Microorganisms. 14th ed. Pearson, 2015. 6-7. Print.
"The Microbial World." :: A Look at All Things Small. 2006. Web. 8 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.microbiologytext.com/>
Nester, Eugene W., Denise G. Anderson, C. Evans Roberts, and Martha T. Nester.
Microbiology a Human Perspective. 6th ed. Michelle Watnick, 2009. 727, G-6.
Print.