Bacteria - Importance

Question 1

What is bacteria ecological importance?

Answer 1

Bacteria are saprophytes meaning they decompose plants and animals. They release digestive enzymes into dead plants and animals, enzymes break down organic matter and bacteria absorbs nutrients. Water, CO2 and nitrogenous waste are returned to environment.

Question 2

Bacterias role in food chains and food webs?

Answer 2

Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic bacteria are important for environment because they are producers

Question 3

Pathogenic importance of bacteria? No

Answer 3

Regulates population by killing host with diseases

Question 4

What is bacteria symbiotic importance, name 3 examples:

Answer 4

1. turn atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate for plants and in return it obtains carbohydrates from plants
2. Mutualistic bacteria found in herbivorous animals sit in digestive tracts and break down cellulose inti simple sugar in return it obtains nutrients from digested food
3. Bacteria Echerichia coli present in human intestine releases vitamins B12, E, and K from foods which is absorbed inti human blood system and in return absorbe some nutrients from digested food

Question 5

What is bacteria economic importance? (5)

Answer 5

oil spill clean ups - genetically modified bacteria used to rapidly digest oil

Production of chemicals - chemicals such as ethanol and acetone

Production of food and drinks - yogurt, cheese, vinegar and wine are produced by bacteria fermentation

Obtaining precious metals from rocks - copper gold and uranium is extracted from rocks by bacteria that have been modified to have greater bio leaching abilities

Production of hormones - using recombinant DNA technology bacteria can produce hormones for human use

Question 6

Use of bacteria by indigenous people of southern africa:

Answer 6

Drinks such as mahewe and maas made by bacteria fermentation