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Questions and Answers
Which of the following components are considered abiotic in an ecosystem?
Microorganisms can only be categorized as consumers in an ecosystem.
False
What term describes the role that an organism plays in its ecosystem?
Niche
Phytoplankton in the ocean produce the bulk of Earth's ______.
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Match the following biogeochemical cycles to their primary element:
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Which group of organisms makes up the majority of soil life?
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Soil acts as a filter to clean groundwater by removing contaminants.
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Name one role of fungi in the soil ecosystem.
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Coliform bacteria can be characterized as _______ shaped, Gram-negative bacteria.
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Match the following soil organisms to their functions:
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What percentage of sewage is solids?
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Secondary treatment involves the use of trickle filters and activated sludge.
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What is bioremediation in the context of wastewater treatment?
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The ________ treatment stage involves removal of phosphates and nitrates.
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Which of the following is NOT a form of symbiosis?
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Match the types of symbiotic relationships with their descriptions:
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Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of humans have a mutualistic relationship.
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What are primary treatment methods in sewage treatment?
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Study Notes
The Ecosystem
- A community of living things in a non-living environment
- A specific location with biogeochemical cycles and energy transformations
- Ecosystems have boundaries that overlap with other ecosystems
- Ecosystems are divided into living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components
- Abiotic components: sunlight, temperature, precipitation, soil, air, and chemicals.
- Biotic components: living producers and consumers
Niche
- The role that an organism plays in the ecosystem
- Microorganisms occupy specific niches
- We are interested in how these organisms interact with the abiotic components
- Their value to us as organisms
- How they contribute to our existence
- Microbes can be producers, consumers, or detritivores
Biogeochemical Cycling
- The movement of elements and compounds through living (biotic) organisms and the non-living (abiotic) environment
- Important cycles
- Carbon Cycle
- Nitrogen Cycle
- Oxygen Cycle
- Phosphorus Cycle
- Sulfur Cycle
- Water Cycle
- Microorganisms play a critical role in ALL of these cycles
- For example, phytoplankton in the ocean produce the bulk of Earth’s oxygen!!
Bacteria in Soil
- Soil is full of life and is the primary interaction between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) that makes soil a living system.
- Microbes and other biotic entities extract abiotic factors from the soil
- Soil acts as a filter to clean groundwater
- Soil particles act like a filter to remove contaminants
Five Major Groups of Organisms in Soil
- Bacteria – most numerous (~95%)
- Nitrogen fixing, sulfur fixing, carbon fixing
- Aerobic bacteria (74%)
- Anaerobic bacteria (14%)
- Actinomycetes – denitrifiers – (13%)
- Protozoans – feed on bacteria
- Fungi – decomposers (3%)
- Feed on dead material
- Other (0.2%)
- Algae - Found on the soil surface
- Worms - nematodes, earthworms
Microbes in Air
- Microbes don't generally grow in air
- They are contained on dust and water droplets
- Air in buildings contains microorganisms
- Higher dust and moisture contents
- Lots of people sweating and breathing
- Poor circulation
- Mold is the most common microorganism found in air
Wastewater Treatment
- Large scale treatment can be accomplished through Cl injection
- Small scale treatment can be through the addition of bleach
- Coliform bacteria: Rod-shaped, Gram-negative, Non-spore forming, Motile or non-motile bacteria which can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35–37°C.
- Sewage treatment plants require more complex methods
- Contains 99% contaminated water
- 1% solids
- Household wastes (faeces, detergents, grease, hair)
- Industrial wastes (acids, oil, chemicals, organic matter)
- Two levels of treatment of sewage: primary and secondary
Primary Treatment of Raw Sewage
- Screens and course filters
- Remove solids and large debris
- Place in sedimentation tanks
Secondary Treatment of Raw Sewage (Effluent from 1 Treatment)
- Trickle filters – spray over rocks/sand covered in bacteria
- Activated Sludge – agitate and aerate sludge
- Aerobic breakdown of organic matter
- Check BOD and release to rivers/streams/Oceans
Tertiary Treatment (If Required)
- Effluent from 2 treatment processed for removal of PO4 & NO3
- Involve:
- Physical and chemical treatment
- Sand and charcoal filtration
- Denitrifying bacteria to remove nitrogenous compounds
- Chlorination to kill bacteria
- UV light to kill Cl resistant organisms
Bioremediation
- An alternative to Sewage Plants
- Bacteria introduced to raw contaminants
- Organisms treat effluent and contents
Symbiosis
- When two organisms develop a relationship it is symbiotic.
- The larger organism is the host, the smaller, the symbiont
Types of Symbiotic Relationships
- Commensal – beneficial to the MO but does not harm the host
- Bacteria on the skin
- Bacteria in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract
- Mutualistic – bacteria and host benefit from the relationship
- Assist the immune system
- Assist in nutrient metabolism, vitamin production, and waste processing.
- Parasitic - the bacteria benefit while the host is harmed
- Blood flukes (shistosomiasis) a.k.a. bilharizia
- Tape worms
- Competition – One species outcompetes another
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Description
Test your knowledge on ecosystems, their biotic and abiotic components, and the importance of niches within these systems. This quiz covers key concepts such as biogeochemical cycling and the roles microorganisms play in the environment. Understand how these elements interact to support life on Earth.
