Lecture 17: Enviromental Microbiology Flashcards
What is one function of microbes in the environment?
Produce oxygen
What do microbes decompose?
Organic matter
Which nutrients do microbes modify for use by others?
C, N, S, Fe, metals
What type of food do photo- and chemoautotrophs produce?
Food for chemoheterotrophs
What do microbes fix from the atmosphere into a usable form?
Nitrogen
How do microbes help plant roots?
Give access to nutrients in the soil
What benefit do microbes provide to herbivores?
Allow them to eat poor quality food
Name one of the five major nutritional groups of microbes.
Photolithoautotroph
What role do photolithoautotrophs play in the ecosystem?
Essential producers of organic material
Which microbial group contributes to the carbon and nitrogen cycles?
Chemoorganoheterotrophs
What are some industrial uses of chemoorganoheterotrophs?
Making foods & beverages, medical products
What is bioremediation?
Cleaning spills using plants & microorganisms
What was the effective cleanup method for the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
Adding P and N to stimulate microbial growth
What is eutrophication?
Addition of nutrients to water leading to algae growth
What does excessive nutrient richness in water lead to?
Depletion of O2, kills fish
What does BOD measure?
Amount of oxygen needed for microbes to degrade organic material
What is the primary treatment in sewage treatment?
Allows large material to settle out, forming sludge
What does secondary treatment in sewage treatment involve?
Biological removal of organic material and most pathogens
What is removed during tertiary treatment in sewage treatment?
Inorganic nutrients, viruses, chemicals, toxins
True or False: Eutrophication is caused by the addition of nutrients that are normally in limited quantities.
True
Fill in the blank: The more organic material in water, the higher the _______.
BOD
