Principle of Microbial Ecology

Question 1

Meaning of Ecology.

Answer 1

Study of organisms & their interaction with environment.

Reveals relation between living and non-living parts of environment.

Question 2

Hierarchy in ecology.

Answer 2

1. Species
2. Population
3. Communities
4. Ecosystems
5. Biosphere

Question 3

Describe the determinants of biosphere’s distribution of organisms.

Abiotic factors

Answer 3

1. Temperature - affects metabolism
2. Water - compound of life
3. Sunlight - source of energy
4. Wind - temperature and evaporation
5. Rocks and soil - physical structure, pH, mineral composition
6. Natural disastures - fire, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions.

Question 3

Describe the determinants of biosphere’s distribution of organisms.

Abiotic factors

Answer 3

1. Temperature - affects metabolism
2. Water - compound of life
3. Sunlight - source of energy
4. Wind - temperature and evaporation
5. Rocks and soil - physical structure, pH, mineral composition
6. Natural disastures - fire, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions.

Question 3

Describe the determinants of biosphere’s distribution of organisms.

Abiotic factors

Answer 3

1. Temperature - affects metabolism
2. Water - compound of life
3. Sunlight - source of energy
4. Wind - temperature and evaporation
5. Rocks and soil - physical structure, pH, mineral composition
6. Natural disastures - fire, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions.

Question 4

What is homeostasis in ecosystems?

Answer 4

Dynamic balance of processes, materials and organisms in the ecosystem and biosphere.

Question 5

Explain on how to balance the ecosystem?

Answer 5

Flow of Energy
1. Producers - synthesize comples organic cmpound from inorganic cmpound.
2. Consumers - Herbivores (primary), Omnivores (secondary & tertiary).
3. Decomposers - breakdown dead organic material.

Question 6

Roles of microbes in the ecosystems?

Answer 6

• Oxygen producers - blue-green algae.
• Fix nitrogen in the atmosphere
• Recyclers of dead materials
• Source of food in food chain
• Remove weaker species through infections.

Question 7

Types of microbial interaction can be based on?

Answer 7

1. Physical interaction
2. Beneficial/harmful effects

Question 8

types of physical interaction.

in microbial interaction

Answer 8

• endosymbiosis
• ectosymbiosis

Question 9

Interaction quality that are positive.

Answer 9

• Mutualism
• Cooperation
• Commensalism

Question 10

Interaction quality that are negative.

Answer 10

• Predation
• Parasitism
• Amensalism
• Competition

Question 11

Approaches to effective ecosystems management.

Answer 11

1. Stakeholders
2. Adaptive management
3. Natural resource management.
4. Strategic management
5. Landscape level conservation.
6. Command and control management.