Microorganism Functions in an Ecosystem Bundle 11: Energy & Ecology

OBJECTIVE  Summarize the role of microorganism in both maintaining and disrupting the health of both organisms and ecosystems.

1) What role do microorganisms play in maintaining the health of organisms?  E. Coli is bacteria found in the large intestines of humans.  Helps get nutrients out of food that we can’t digest  Produces some vitamins such as Vitamin K for blood clotting  Lactobacilli is bacteria that helps in digesting milk proteins.

2) What role do microorganisms play in disrupting the health of organisms?  Some microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, are pathogenic. This means they cause disease.  Example: Streptococcus pyogenes causes Strep Throat.

3) What role do microorganisms play in maintaining the health of ecosystems?  Bacteria and fungi are important in recycling nutrients. They are decomposers that chemically breakdown dead tissues into nutrients used by other organisms.  Nitrogen Fixation is the process of turning atmospheric nitrogen into forms that can be absorbed and used by plants to produce proteins.

3) What role do microorganisms play in maintaining the health of ecosystems?  Oil-Eating Bacteria help restore ecosystems after an oil spill.  Mycorrhizal Fungi helps ecosystems recover following disturbances like forest fires or hurricanes.

4) What role do microorganisms play in disrupting the health of an ecosystem?  Chestnut Blight Fungus – Accidentally introduced to US in Caused the death of Chestnut Trees throughout the eastern US, which provided nutrients to forest. Chestnut trees were replaced with oak, hickory and maple trees as a result.  Red Tide – Some aquatic Euglena and dinoflagellates grow exponentially creating algal blooms that block out sunlight and reduce ocean oxygen levels. This causes fish and other sea organisms to die off suddenly.

EXIT PASS  Find ONE microorganism that benefits and ONE microorganism that disrupts your environment.  Explain WHY these organisms help MAINTAIN or DISRUPT your environment.  Cannot use ANY of the organisms given in the notes!