BS 375 Lecture Notes - Microbiology, Protozoa, Surface 2

• School: University of the Sciences
• Department: Biological Sciences
• Course: BS 375

Document Summary

Aquatic microbiology: the study of microbes and microbial communities in relation to water environments. 70% of earth"s surface is covered with water. Protection and preservation of water environment is essential for the continuation of life. How do microbes grow in aquatic environments: planktonic (floating/suspended in water surface, sediments (found in sedimentation, microbial mats (they are found in various layers, they may be found in biofilm communities. Planktonic habitat: the microbial communities which are suspended in water column also called floating forms. Neustons: these microbes rest on the water"s surface. Perform photosynthesis, release o2 in the environment. Bacterioplankton: the heterotrophic bacterial population in plankton habitat. Open ocean & fresh water: low population of microbes due to low organic matter. Coastal areas: high population due to river outflows and due to high organic matter. The sediment-plankton interface results in a microenvironment in which the combined aerobic and anaerobic activity supports a diversity of microbial populations.