Influential factors - Lecture 1 Flashcards
What are phototrophs and chemotrophs?
Phototrophs gain energy from the sunlight, chemotrophs gain energy from inorganic and/or organic compounds.
Where do organotrophs and lithotrophs gain electrons from?
Organotrophs gain electrons from organic compounds, Lithotrophs gain electrons from inorganic compounds
Where do autotrophs and heterotrophs get their carbon source from?
Autotrophs use CO2 to make carbon compounds (primary producers), Heterotrophs use organic compounds from their environment.
What is a niche?
Set of environmental conditions in which a species of microbe can replicate
What factors determine where a microbe can live?
Nutrients availability, oxygen concentration, temperature, pH, light intensity, radiation, solute concentration (osmolarity) and water activity.
What is a growth optima?
A set range of conditions in which each species of microbe will grow.
Microbial growth in different O2 concentrations depends on what?
The microbes metabolic processes, ETC, and the terminal electron acceptor.
What are the different categories for O2 requirements for microbes
1) Obligate aerobe
2) Facultative anaerobe
3) Aerotolerant anaerobe
4) Strict anaerobe
5) Microaerophile
What is an obligate aerobe?
Microbe that requires O2
What is an obligate anaerobe?
Microbes that are usually killed in the presence of O2
What is a microaerophile?
Microbes that require 2-10% oxygen
What is a facultative anaerobe?
Microbe that does not require O2 but grow better in its presence
What is an aerotolerant anaerobe?
Grows with or without O2
What do strict anaerobes lack that aerobes produce?
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase
