Environmental Bio 3340 Research Paper

1) Bacteria is a organism that is present in most habitats, as well as human bodies and other living organisms such as plants and animals. Bacteria multiplies by its self to progress and spread. Unlike other infections such as viruses, fungi or parasites bacteria is not always harmful in fact in many cases bacteria can be useful to the living organisms,habitats or plants that it infects.

Explain why microbes are so important. In your answer identify two beneficial and two harmful effects on your health and lifestyle. What

Nitrification = bacteria that convert ammonium ions first into nitrite ions then into nitrate ions

This theory developed by Joseph Francis states that microbes and viruses were created as a link to macro-organisms to provide a substrate upon which all macro-organisms can survive and thrive in ecosystems (Francis). The evidence of this can be seen in symbiotic relationships between microbes and macro-organisms that provide the macro-organisms the ability to live and thrive. An example of this would be the intestinal microbes in humans that provide digestive enzymes, vitamins, and other nutrients that are vital to the health of the human (Francis). Another example would be nitrogen fixing bacteria that promote plant growth. This would include Burkholderia phymatum and Cupriavidus taiwanensis with Mimosa plants. (Geoffrey et al., 2006). Also, Francis mentions the Rhizobium bacterium which also fixes nitrogen for plant use (Francis). Without these microbes, the macro-organisms would not be able to function to their best capability and could possibly cause the breakdown of all life

We share this earth with a wide diversity of organisms, many of which we are unaware. Microorganisms are so abundant that it is estimated that there are one hundred million times more microbes on earth than there are stars in the sky (Francis, 2009). God created everything with a specific design. Microbes are a great example of that. According to the Bible, in Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or power. All this were created through Him and for Him” (NKJV). Microbes have many different functions and abilities, some are beneficial and others are harmful, but they were made with a purpose. These microscopic microbes play a critical role to life on earth. Without microbes we would not be able to survive; they balance the life in our

If the decomposers vanished waste and remains of dead organisms would start to pile up. The nutrients that are in the waste and dead organisms would not be renewed back into the ecosystem. Therefore the producers would not have enough nutrients since decomposers were not there to make new

Pollution often releases chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air that react with the other chemicals to create acid rain. Because water is so essential to different organisms, the acidification of water affects other biochemical processes and various aspects of our environment, including agriculture, tree damage at high elevations, and acidification of the soil. (US Environmental Protection Agency) These effects negatively impact other organisms, such as plants that can only grow in a specific range of pH’s, which could lead to ion imbalances in the soil, further altering the biochemistry. (Nie et al. 2013) Lack of plant growth would cause herbivores to die out, causing carnivores to die out and shifting the entire food web, which could have drastic results in the biosphere. Looking at soil acidification specifically, it has been shown that earthworms are extremely important for soil chemistry as they filter and replenish nutrients into the soil. (Beck et al. 2005) They also affect soil enzyme activity, due to the microbes living in their guts. (Tica et al. 2013)

They are in the air, in the water, in the soil, on your skin and even inside of you! Without them humans and animals would not be able to eat or breathe. Microbes allow plants to

Micro-organisms obeserved in B were; Volvox, Pandorina and Gonium. Drawings of the micro-organisms mentioned before kan be seen in Figure 2

Microbes have been living and evolving in nature for billions of years. Microbes are the main forces that promote the structure and content of soil, water and the atmosphere. Some of these microbes were photosynthetic long before the evolution of plants. They were also responsible for creating oxygen rich air in the atmosphere billions of years ago as well. Some microbes are even involved in a process called decomposition, where dead material and wastes are broken down into simple compounds. The compounds are then returned into the nutrient cycle of living organisms. Microbes are contributory in creating these gases by living in the environment as well as in the gut of animals.

The bacteria can be helpful or harmful to the environment and animals, including humans. The role of bacteria in causing disease and infection is important. Some are pathogens, causing diseases such as tetanus, typhoid fever, syphilis, cholera, foodborne infections, and tuberculosis.

During bioremediation, microbes consume contaminants, transforming them into small quantities of water and harmless gas (ex. carbon dioxide). Some microbes are aerobic while others are anaerobic. (EPA, 2013). Microbes absorb oil, oxygen and nutrients and release gases and water. “Bioaugmentation” is the process where microbes are added to soil and groundwater that do not have enough. The optimal temperature, nutrients and food must be present for bioremediation to occur. Suitable conditions allow the microbes to grow, multiply and consume more contaminants. If the conditions are not up to standard, the microbes grow too slow or die before the contaminants are cleaned up. These conditions can be improved by adding “amendments”. (EPA, 2015).

Every second of our lives, we run into microbes of all varieties. We encounter numerous types of viruses and bacteria just walking in our own homes. Scientists and Microbiologists are still discovering millions of microbes each and every day. How can one not believe in a creator when there are so many tiny things that are swarming around us each day? Bacteria is everywhere. Good bacteria are allowing life cycles to continue, where bad bacteria are trying to throw those cycles off track. The Lord so intricately designed microbes for specific purposes. They each do different things, causing life to be the way it is. Each microbe has a different effect on our lives. The vast amount of things the Lord uses microbes for is amazing. He made microbes that decompose garbage, microbes that can eat flesh, microbes that can fight other microbes in the body and so many more! The Lord causes the function of the microbes for all biogeochemical cycles. In this paper I will be discussing two different microbes. One microbe being medically related to life and then the second being an environmental microbe. Each of these has a different effect on life of some type. So, let’s begin.

The microbes that exist in our world are not all bad they have many very helpful traits that can be observed every day .Microbes just like bacteria and fungi break down complex pollutants into simpler substances to gain energy and nutrients by the process called biodegradation. “What biodegradation means is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other biological means. Although often conflated, biodegradable is distinct in meaning from compostable.” (Biodegradation.) Microbes are found naturally in the world and they are also used by humans for important reasons. For example they

Microbial bioremediation can be seen happening almost anywhere such as soil, water, sludge, sewage, inside plants and animals, in agricultural fields and so on. In other words we can say that bioremediation may occur in a vast range of surroundings depending upon the availability of suitable microbes. This property