Kingdom: Monera

General characteristics Prokaryotic (no nucleus or membrane bound organelles) Most are unicellular (some live in colonies) Nobody seems to be able to agree on how they should be grouped!! (eek)

Phylum: Schizophyta Largest group, contains common bacteria and Eubacteria Most are heterotrophs (take in food) Some are autotrophs (make their own food)

Basic shapes: Bacilli: rod shaped Spirilli: spiral or double helix Cocci: circular Long chains called streptococci

Phylum: Cyanophyta The “Blue- green” algae Actually contains many pigments. Colours can range from blue to red to black Contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis Are found in hotsprings, polluted water, swimming pools (make rocks and pool walls very slick)

Phylum: Prochlorophyta Photosynthetic microbes which live in marine organisms

Phylum: Archaebacteria Methanogens: bogs, swamps, sewage plants Halophiles: high salt areas (the dead sea) Thermophiles: likes acidic/hot (hot springs)

Nutrition: how monera “eat” Heterotrophs: get food from others Parasites get their food from living organisms without killing the host Saprophytes get their food from the dead (bacteria which break down corpses or old trees)

Autotrophs: make their own food Photosynthesis: change light energy into chemical energy CO2 + H2O + sunlight --> glucose + O2 Chemosynthesis: energy from chemicals CO2 + H2S --> (CH2O)n + H2O + S

Obtaining energy/respiration Humans and animals have to breathe to obtain O2 for respiration The purpose of respiration is to release energy from food so we can function Organisms which require oxygen for respiration are called aerobes Glucose + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + energy

Fermentation Not all monerans require oxygen to release energy from food These organisms go through fermentation Less energy from fermentation than respiration glucose --> C2H5OH + CO2 + energy

Obligate anaerobes: need an environment without O2 to live Facultative anaerobes: can survive with or without O2. (ex: E.coli in digestive tract)

Reproduction Asexual: binary fission DNA doubles Cell splits in two (clones) Important for increasing numbers

Sexual: conjugation Cell to cell contact with a “cytoplasm bridge” Small rings or genetic material (plasmids) are transferred from donor to recipient Allows for variation in bacteria

Effects of Bacteria Harmful Disease (bubonic plague, strep throat) Food spoilage Helpful Digestion Making yogurt and cheese Toxic/poison eating microbes (oil spills) Recycling plants/animals in the environment