Factor that influence

bacteria lives
Factors that influence
bacteria lives
Water
Temperature
Acidity (pH)
Salinity
Oxygen
Food supply (Nutrition)
Light
Chemicals

A. Abiotik
Water availability
Water is solvent for biomolecules, and its
availability is critical for cellular growth
The availability of water depends upon its
presence in the atmosphere (relative humidity) or
its presence in solution or a substance (water
activity, (A
w
)
A
w
pure (100%).
Microorganisms live over a range of A
w
from 1.0 to
0.7. The A
w
of human blood is 0.99; seawater =
0.98; maple syrup = 0.90; Great Salt Lake = 0.75.
Water activities in agricultural soils range between
0.9 and 1.0.

Temperature
Temperature is a major environmental
factor controlling microbial growth. The
cardinal temperatures are the minimum,
optimum, and maximum temperatures at
which each organism grows.
Microorganisms can be grouped by the
temperature ranges they require.
Low or High pH
The acidity or alkalinity of an
environment can greatly affect microbial
growth.
Organisms that grow best at low pH are
called acidophiles; those that grow best
at high pH are called alkaliphiles.
Growth of thermophilic cyanobacteria in Grand
Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Some organisms have evolved to grow
best at low or high pH, but most
organisms grow best between pH 6 and
8. The internal pH of a cell must stay
relatively close to neutral even though the
external pH is highly acidic or basic.
pH profiles for some prokaryotes
Organism Minimum pH Optimum pH Maximum pH
Thiobacillus thiooxidans 0.5 2.0-2.8 4.0-6.0
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius 1.0 2.0-3.0 5.0
Bacillus acidocaldarius 2.0 4.0 6.0
Zymomonas lindneri 3.5 5.5-6.0 7.5
Lactobacillus acidophilus 4.0-4.6 5.8-6.6 6.8
Staphylococcus aureus 4.2 7.0-7.5 9.3
Escherichia coli 4.4 6.0-7.0 9.0
Clostridium sporogenes 5.0-5.8 6.0-7.6 8.5-9.0
Erwinia caratovora 5.6 7.1 9.3
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5.6 6.6-7.0 8.0
Thiobacillus novellus 5.7 7.0 9.0
Streptococcus pneumoniae 6.5 7.8 8.3
Nitrobacter sp 6.6 7.6-8.6 10.0
Salinity
Some microorganisms (halophiles)
have evolved to grow best at reduced
water potential, and some (extreme
halophiles) even require high levels of
salts for growth.
Oxygen
Aerobes require oxygen to live,
whereas anaerobes do not and may even
be killed by oxygen.
Microaerophiles are aerobes that can
use oxygen only when it is present at
levels reduced from that in air.
Facultative organisms can live with or
without oxygen. Aerotolerant anaerobes
can tolerate oxygen and grow in its
presence even though they cannot use it.
Growth of thermophilic cyanobacteria in Grand
Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Toxic Forms of Oxygen
Several toxic forms of oxygen can be
formed in the cell as the result of
respiration, but enzymes are present that
can neutralize most of them. Hydrogen
peroxide is one of those forms that can
be neutralized by catalase.
Several toxic forms of oxygen can be
formed in the cell as the result of
respiration, but enzymes are present that
can neutralize most of them. Hydrogen
peroxide is one of those forms that can be
neutralized by catalase.
Anaerobic growth chambers
Nutrition
Bacteria feed by secreting enzymes
which break down their food source into
smaller molecules that can be absorbed
by the bacteria.
This is called
extra-cellular
digestion.
22
Miscellaneous conditions
Radiation (solar, UV, gamma)
Can all damage cells; bacteria have pigments to
absorb energy and protect themselves.
Endospores are radiation resistant.
Deinococcus radiodurans: extremely radiation
resistant
Extremely efficient DNA repair, protection against
dessication damage to DNA.
Barophiles/barotolerant: microbes from deep sea
Baro- means pressure. Actually require high
pressure as found in their environment.
Parasites Live on or in larger organisms
and feed off them. If they cause
disease they are called pathogens.

Saprophytes Consume dead matter.
These bacteria are scavengers
and decomposers.
Mutualism
Both mutualistic partner species benefit from
the relationship. One example is that of
cellulose-digesting protozoa/bacteria living in
the guts of many herbivores


B. Biotik
Nitrogen cycle
Plants and animals need nitrogen to make
protein but they cant use the nitrogen in
the air because they cannot break open
the N
2
molecules.

Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots of
plants like clover, convert nitrogen gas
from the air into nitrates which can be
used by plants as a source of nitrogen
Nitrogen cycle
Animals get there nitrogen by eating plants or
animal protein.

Dead animal and plant protein, and animal urine
is broken down by decomposers. The nitrogen
changes back to nitrates.

Some bacteria in the soil can change nitrates
back into nitrogen gas, these are denitrifying
bacteria.

Nitrogen Cycle
Decomposers
Nitrogen fixing
bacteria
Denitrifying
bacteria
Saprophyte
+
Helpful and harmful:
Naturally helpful:
Many bacteria and fungi are decomposers
breaking down dead tissue (e.g. in compost
heaps).

These micro-organisms release nutrients that
plants can absorb. They form important parts of
the nitrogen and carbon cycle.

Carbon cycle
Carbon is released from dead matter by
decomposers into the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide gas, which is absorbed by
plants as they manufacture food.



Herbivores and gut bacteria
Herbivores cannot
produce cellulose-
digesting enzymes.
Bacteria which can do
this are found in the
alimentary tract of
herbivores.
These bacteria receive
food and shelter, and
aid plant digestion.
Summary
Parasitism Mutualism
+
-
Species A
Species B
+
+