Microbial Ecology Answers – Flashcards
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| Define Microbial Ecology |
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| the study of interrealtionships between organism and their environment |
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| What is an example of a prime niche in a microenvironment? |
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| a lion preying on a hyena |
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| Characteristics of a microenvironment |
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| spacially very small, physical/chemical conditions can change rapidly |
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| TF Microenvironments are homogeneous |
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| F: Heterogeneous |
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| TF nutrients are in short supply in microenvironments |
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| True |
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| TF nutrient distribution is uniform in microenvironments |
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| False |
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| TF periods of optimal growth are rare in microenvironments |
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| T |
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| Rates of nutrient uptake and growth rates are affected by _______ |
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| competition |
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| What helps to inhibit competitors? |
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| competition |
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| What is syntrophy? |
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| eating together |
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| What four points are made about cooperation? |
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| syntrophy, complementary metabolisms close associations, consortia |
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| What is consortia |
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| microbials gluing themselves together. |
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| Symbiosis: Neutralism |
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| living close together |
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| Symbiosis: Commensalism |
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| living in/on. organism gets the benefit, host gets no benefit. |
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| Symbiosis: Mutualism |
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| 2 living together, no effect on each other |
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| Symbiosis: Parasitism |
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| organism lives below the radar, can cause problems. |
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| Symbiosis: Synergism |
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| coming together and doing something they cannot do alone. Example: digesting bark |
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| Phototrophic microorganisms are ____ producers |
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| primary |
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| What are examples of phototrophic microorganisms? |
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| phytoplankton, benthic algae |
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| In aquatic habitats, what affects the rate of primary production? |
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| biologic activity (driven by sunlight) |
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| What percent of bugs are found on the surface? |
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| 95 |
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| What do the surfaces of things do? 2 things |
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| adsorbtion of nutrients, nutrient itself |
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| What are biofilms and what are they attached by? |
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| microcolonies encased in and attached by polysaccharides |
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| What prevent detachment and concentrate nutrients? |
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| biofilms |
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| What is Quorum sensing? |
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| chemical messengers - they coordinate production |
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| Where does gas/nutrient exchange occur? |
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| biofilms |
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| What are the 4 biochemical lifecycles? |
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| carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, iron |
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| Gaia hypothesis |
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| uh |
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| TF for carbon fixation and energy flow, the terrestrial and aquatic evironment contribute equally |
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| T |
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| What dominate terrestrial enviro |
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| plants |
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| what dominate aquatic environments |
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| microorganisms |
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| Where is most of the carbon in the world? |
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| in plants |
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| Humus |
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| have nothing on it |
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| Where can photosynthesis occur? |
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| terrestrial or aquatic |
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| What aids in decomposition (in reference to the carbon cycle) |
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| CH4, CO2 |
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| What metals are affected by microbial leaching? |
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| copper, uranium, gold |
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| What is heavy metal transformation? |
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| heavy metal pollution: microbes will trap them in marshes |
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| What is petroleum biodegredation? |
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| the most "light weight" was eaten |
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| Xenobiotic biodegradation |
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| idk |
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| What two types of plants are in root nodule bacteria? |
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| legumes, non-legumes |
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| Is root nodule bacteria gram (-) or (+)? |
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| negative |
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| What are the benefits of root nodules for plants and bacterium? |
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| plants: reliable N2 source Bacterium: stable, nutrient rich environment |
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| TF root nodule bacteria has low species specificity |
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| False, high |
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| How many microbial cells are in humans? |
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| 100 trillion |
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| what are the benefits of normal human flora? |
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| exclusion of pathogens and nutrients |
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| What are the harmful effects of human microflora? |
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| opportunistic pathogens |
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| What are most skin organisms associated with? |
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| apocrine glands |
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| What type of environment is skin? |
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| dry, acidic |
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| Gram -/+ organisms dominate on the skin? |
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| positive |
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| Transient vs resident flora |
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| no notes |
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| What are the two antibacterial components of saliva? |
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| lysozyme and lactoperoxidase |
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| What are the two ways bacteria shows up on teeth? |
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| cavities and dental plaque |
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| What two vitamins do you find in the intestinal tract? |
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| B12, K |
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| Where are steroids modified? |
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| intestinal tract |
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| What is ~33% weight of feces? |
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| intestinal tract flora |
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| Chemostat in the large intestine |
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| keep it at a normal level |
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| What types of membranes are in the upper tract of the respiratory system? |
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| mucous membranes |
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| What is in the lower tract of the respiratory tract? |
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| ciliated epithelial cells, particles and resident lung flora |
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| what do you find in the urethra |
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| falcutative negative rods and cocci, opportunistic pathogens |
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| What is the vagina like, pre puberty? |
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| no glycogen, alkaline |
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| what is the adult vagina like? |
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| glycogen produced, acidic (lactobacilli) |
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| What is vagina like post menopause |
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| no glycogen, alkaline |
