eukaryotes- beneficial effects

Question 1

beneficial effects of fungi in soil

Answer 1

as obligate aerobes, fungi are present in the topsoil, and fungal enzymes increase the efficiancy of soil decomposition by hydrolysing complex substances - in this way they are active components of the carbon cycle in soil.
crucial for the development and maintenance of organic content of soil
detrivores scavenge dead organic material and fungal exoenzymes degrade them further
important in soil as they are decomposers in bio-deterioration and bio-degradation

Question 2

fungi: biotechnology

Answer 2

irofulven cancer treatment drug from omphalotus illudens

Question 3

beneficial effects of protozoa in soil

Answer 3

they can predate common soil bacterial species
form part of the food chain as nutrition for micro-invertebrates

Question 4

beneficial effects of protozoa in water

Answer 4

amoeba grazing on bacteria in water as a natural means of water ‘purification’

Question 5

beneficial effects of algae in soil and water

Answer 5

as photoautotrophs they are capable of fixing atmospheric carbon
chlorella spp. are used as a model organism for photosynthetic studies

Question 6

algae: biotechnology

Answer 6

volvox aures > biodiesel
Isochrysis spp > source of omega 3
chlorella vulgaris > waste water bioremediation