|
Publish Biotechnology Articles or Industry News
Biotech Professionals and Students - Share your knowledge - Get Recognition |
Home | Submit Articles | Login |
| ALL Categories | AGRICULTURE | CAREERS | GENETICS | HEALTHCARE | ISSUES | NEWS | STEM CELLS |
Importance of Microorganisms in the EcosystemBY: Amna Adnan | Category: Biology | Submitted: 2010-07-09 06:51:30
Microorganisms are the important part of the ecosystem of the planet earth. They are usually unicellular and cannot be seen without naked eye. Though they are very small but they possess proper functions of life. They contain proper double stranded DNA which has the complete genetic information in it. They can be found in any habitat whether it is very cold environment or very hot environment for example, deserts, rocks, ice and many other areas. They simply divide by cell division. If there were no microorganisms on earth, the ecosystem would have died by now because they help in degradation of the dead materials. There are many important functions of the microorganisms in the ecosystem of the earth. Some of them are as follows. Decompositions:- Microorganisms are the main source of decomposition. When an animal or human die, they penetrate in their bodies and deep inside, they start digesting the dead skin and other organs. When the microorganisms decompose a body, in that process many useful nutrients are released from the body which help in many processes. If there were no microorganisms then it would be impossible for the dead body to decompose and nutrients would have lost somewhere. Due to the process of decomposition, the soil becomes fertile and can be beneficent for the production of plants. The soil cannot be fertilized without microorganisms. Production of Oxygen:- The other area in which microorganisms play their part is the production of oxygen. The rainforests are considered to be the lungs of the world but still they provide half of the oxygen, the other half is provided by the microorganisms. It is a fact that microorganisms are the source of producing oxygen in the environment. Single celled green plants especially include in this category of microorganisms like cyanobacteria and blue green algae. The habitat of these plants is the oceans, lakes and ponds. It is not that these plants only produce oxygen but they also produce food that is why they are called as autotrophs. Parasitic nature of microorganisms:- Though it seems negative property of the microorganisms that they cause diseases in the living organisms due to the parasitic characteristics in them, but if we see from other aspect, they are the cause of bringing evolution of many species because weak organisms die out due to the disease and strong and beneficent organisms are left out in the ecosystem. It is their parasitic nature which kills the weak individuals from the community and leaves enough food for those who survive so that they can grow and reproduce efficiently and healthily. Symbiotic properties:- One more important role of the microorganisms is that they create symbiotic relationship with higher organisms like cows and camels and sheep etc. when cow eats grass, it cannot digest it independently but there are certain microbes involved which help it to digest the food. Other benefit point is that when termites eat wood, they are not able to digest it but there is a special microorganism in their gut which helps to digest wood. When humans are concerned, they are also not able to digest their food without microbes. There is bacterial specie in our intestine E.coli which helps to digest the food properly. Plants also create symbiotic relationships with microorganisms. For example, higher plants have fungi which live in their roots. It helps plant to grow by providing nutrients to it and in return it takes its food from the plant. Similarly some bacteria live in the legumes roots. They help them to take nitrogen that is present in the soil. Similarly there are some microorganisms which help create symbiotic relationship with the marine ecosystem. Article Source: http://www.biotecharticles.com/ About Author / Additional Info: Comments on this article: (1 comments so far)
Additional Articles: • Application of Bioinformatics in Medicine • RNA Interference - The Art of Gene Silencing • IPEX - A Detailed Review • Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT) in Crop Plants. Latest Articles in "Biology" category: • Wonderful World of Microorganisms and Their Role in Human Life. • Molecular Biology Techniques • Process of Reproduction in Bacteria • Starting From the Basics: DNA Extraction • Agrobacetium-Mediated Transformation Protocol • Sucrose Regulating Photosynthesis • Nitrogen Fixation: Genes Involved and the Infection Process • Functional Genomics: A Tool in Genetic Engineering • Plant Tissue Culture and Its Applications • Harmful Effects of Mold and Their Prevention • Gel Electrophoresis in Molecular Biology • Extraction of Phytochemicals • Applications of Thin Layer Chromatography • Beneficial and Harmful Bacteria • Calvin Cycle Regulation and Effect on Photosynthesis • How a Baby Develops Inside Mother's Womb: From an Embryo to a Child • Apoptosis (or cell suicide) : Process and Types • Neurotransmitters and its types • Mode of Action of Antibiotics Important Disclaimer: All articles on this website are for general information only and is not a professional or experts advice. We do not own any responsibility for correctness or authenticity of the information presented in this article, or any loss or injury resulting from it. We do not endorse these articles, we are neither affiliated with the authors of these articles nor responsible for their content. Please see our disclaimer section for complete terms. 
Copyright © 2010 biotecharticles.com - Do not copy articles from this website. |
||||||||||
| | Home | Disclaimer | Xhtml | | ||||||||||
