ECOLOGY OF

MICROORGANISM
Eri Dian M
Microbiology FKUY
 Definition:
the study of the behavior and the activities of
microorganisms in their natural environments

 Foundations
o populations
assemblages of similar organisms
o communities
mixtures of different populations
o ecosystems
self-regulating biological communities and their
physical environment
Interaction beetween microorganis
 Netralism
 Sinergism
 Simbiosism
 Competism
 Antagonism
 Parasitism
 Neutralism
there is no any physiological effect between
the populations.

 Commensalism
Commensalism is a unidirectional
relationship betwen populations in which
one population benefits and the other one
isunaffected.
 Synergism
Synergism indicates that both
populations benefit from the relationship
but the association is not obligatory. Both
populations are capable of surviving
independently.

.
 Mutualism Symbiosis
Mutualism Symbiosis is an obligatory inter-
relationship between two populations that
benefits both of them.
Lichens is composed of a fungus and an alga.
 Competition
Competition occurs when two
populations are striving for the same
resource of nutrients or the habitat.
 Antagonism
Antagonism occurs when one
population produces a substrate
inhibitory to another population.
 Parasitism
the parasite population is benefited and the
host population is harmed.
Synergism
Antagonism
 Symbiosis
 Commensalism
 Mutualis
 Parasitism
 Commensalism
 Definition
Relationship in which one symbiont (the commensal)
benefits while the other (the host) is neither harmed nor helped.
 Characteristics
 Spatial proximity
 The commensal feeds on substances captured or ingested by the
host.
 The commensal obtains shelter from the host
 Not dependent on the host metabolically
 Examples
 E. coli (the commensal) lives in human colon (the host)
 E. coli use up O2 and benefits Bacteroides sp (obligate
anaerobes)
 Oppurtunism
 Opportunistic pathogens
members of normal microbiota that produce
disease under certain circumstances

 Opportunistic infection definition:

infections caused by organisms that usually do not
cause disease in a person with a healthy immune
system, but can affect people with a poorly
functioning or suppressed immune system. They
need an ‘opportunity’ to infect a person
Good
luck