Arellano University

Pasay City
School of Education
MS 119-Microbiology and Parasitology

Name: Date:_________
Year/Course__________________ Dr. Marlowe Louis F. Fabunan

Activity 7- MICROBES IN ECOLOGY

Microbes usually live in communities and rarely as individuals.

They are:
• Present in every known ecosystem
• Over 99% of microbes contribute to the quality of human life
• In terms of numbers, microbes represent most of the diversity of life on Earth and are
found in every environment
• Play a vital part of the ecosystem
• Major producers in aquatic environments
• Decomposers – bacteria and fungi – in many ecosystems
• Key role in Biogeochemical cycles to recycle carbon, nitrogen, carbon, water
• Natural pest killers in gardens and on crops
• Serving as natural water treatment
• Causing some ecological problems as red tide and algal blooms
• Involved in many symbiotic relations as lichens, human digestion, rumens of cows.

Discuss the following concept:

1. The roles of microorganisms in the larger ecosystem
2. Movement of microorganisms
3. Variety of microorganisms in aquatic systems
4. The types of microbes in soil
5. Roles of microbes in soil
6. The relationships between microbes and other organisms
7. Microbial communities within plants and animals
8. BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES - Microbes are key in maintaining ecological balance on Earth
9. Special benefits from microbes
10. Beneficial roles of the indigenous microflora of the human body.