Environmental

Microbiology
Applied & Environmental
Microbiology
applied microbiology is the interaction of
the microbial world and the rest of the
world
genetic variances
microbial effect on soil, water, our
food
microorganisms are present in most
every aspect of our lives
microorganisms are critical to our
survival on Earth
to be a successful ecosystem on Earth,
youd best be nice to the
microorganisms!
Microbial Ecology:
relationship of microorganisms with each
other and their environment

ecosystem: interaction of living
and non-living components
oceans, deserts, marshes,
forests, tundra, lakes
microorganisms play a key
role in ecosystem structure
Microbial Ecology:
relationship of microorganisms with each other and
their environment
microenvironment: immediately
surrounds a microorganism
relevant to survival and growth
of the microorganism
Nutrient Acquisition within an
Ecosystem
3 main levels exist in every ecosystem in regards to
nutrient acquisition
producer
consumer
decomposer

1. primary producers:
convert CO
2
to
organic material
Nutrient Acquisition within an
Ecosystem
2. consumers
heterotrophs
utilize organic
material created
by producers
Nutrient Acquisition within Ecosystem
3. decomposers
heterotrophs
digest leftovers of primary
producers and
consumers
detritus ( fresh or
partially decomposed
organic matter)
bacteria and fungi are
key players in the
process of decomposition

Low Nutrient Environments:
common in nature

bacteria do best in biofilms if
nutrition availability is low
biofilms are a
polysaccharide encased
community of
microorganisms
microorganisms extract
nutrients that are absorbed
by water from air or
nutrients that are adsorbed
onto the biofilm
Microbial competition and antagonism
most environments are suitable to many kinds of
microorganisms
only one or a few can actually occupy the environment
at a given time
Competition and Antagonism:
among microorganisms
competition:
fierce competition for nutrients and water
the faster a microbe reproduces the larger the
population
the larger population competes better
critical, especially if the microorganisms
competing utilize similar nutrients
antagonism
bacteriocins: protein produced by bacteria that
destroys similar strains

WINNER TAKES ALL AND IS KING/QUEEN OF THE
MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEM

Example of Competition
stability of microbial community in human intestine is
attributed to competition and antagonism amongst its
members
compete nicely for nutrients
produce toxins to limit growth of new microbes
Environmental Change affect microbial
population
environmental fluctuations are common and resident
microorganisms may respond by
producing enzymes to help adapt to changing
environment
additional or different enzymes may be necessary
for survival
mutation
domination by other species (cant compete any
more)

Microbial Mat:
thick, dense, organized biofilm
generally found attached to a solid substrate or at air-
water interfaces
Microbial mat attached to
rocks

Microbial mat in stream bed
The Study of Microbial Ecology
somewhat difficult to accomplish
less than 1% of
environmental
microorganisms can be
successfully cultured in the
lab
Microbial Habitat
aquatic
marine:
deep waters are usually stable and consistent
shoreline habitat varies due to nutrient rich run-off
Microbial Habitat
freshwater:
lakes
stratification allows for the mixing of the water
seasonally.
Increases the presence of O
2
in the deeper H
2
O
algae
paramecium
Microbial Habitat
moving water
rivers
generally aerobic due to
turbulence facilitating O
2

circulation
river ostracod
Microbial Habitat
terrestrial
microorganisms are critical to soil habitat
composition of microbes is dependent on soil
conditions
wet soil: anaerobic conditions due to water filling
the pore space in the soil, soil dries and
microbes go produce endospores for survival
Endospores
Mutualism with Eukaryotes
mychorrhizae: fungus
assist plants in the uptake of
phosphorous
mychorrizae gain nutrient from plant
Mutualism
nitrogen fixers: fix nitrogen
and make it available for
the use by their partner
plant
most common is
Rhizobium, a
microorganism found in
many root nodules
Rhizobium in root nodules
Nitrogen Cycle

Carbon cycle
Mutualism: microorganisms and the
world
microorganisms and herbivores
animal with a rumens (cow) or cecums
(horse) need microorganisms to digest the
plant food they ingest
Bacillus in a
cow rumen
Microorganisms in Sewage Treatment
decreasing biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD)
decreases impact of
sewage on the
environment
BOD is the amount of O
2

needed for microbial
decomposition of the
organic material in a
sample
Grit chamber
Biological filter
Clarifier
Microorganisms in Sewage
Treatment
if not treated the high BOD found in sewage could
deplete the O
2
level in the receiving water
in other words if raw sewage is deposited into a lake or
stream without treatment, it would effectively suck the
oxygen out of the water, leaving very little for the fish and
other organisms

Microorganisms in Sewage Treatment
sewage treatment is a controlled process that
strives to eliminate the excess organic material,
thus diminishing the BOD
most of the removal of organic matter is done
by microorganisms
bacterial filaments
Microorganisms and Water Treatment
and Testing
municipal water supplies
are tested and treated for
the removal of pathogenic
microorganisms and
chemicals
this is done with the
use of chemicals
Microorganisms and Solid Waste
Treatment
the elimination of organic waste
material can be enhanced by
microorganisms
increase cost to separate organic
material from inorganic (glass,
metal, plastic)
composting: natural decomposition
of organic solid materiel results in
excellent fertilizer
Compost
microorganisms are
needed to breakdown
the organic material
Bioremediation:
use of microorganisms to eliminate or make
harmless pollutants in an environment
pollutants removed
can include
organic solvents
toxic chemicals
hydrocarbons
oil spill