7-1: Microbial Communities Flashcards
What is the fundamental niche
Theoretical range of environments where a given microbe could live
Range of environments where a microbe actually lives in the real world
Realized niche
What is co-evolution
Evolution guided by the nature of relationships between organism
What do we have a poor understanding of with regards to microbial communities?
Which organisms do/don’t interact
The nature of the relationships (who gets what)
How relationships change. Factors that control
A close, long-term interaction between different organisms is…
symbiosis
What is mutualism
Both organisms benefit form symbiotic relationship
What is commensalism? Parasitism?
One organism benefits, other unaffected
One organism benefits, other is harmed
Organisms that strictly require symbiotic relationships =
Organisms that do not require =
Obligate symbionts
Facultative symbionts
Dominant organisms in lichens
a fungus (euk)
an algae (euk) or cyano
How do fungi benefit in lichens
Photosynthetic partner produces organic compounds (food)
How do algae/cyanobacteria benefit in lichens
Fungus anchors. provides controlled environment for growth
Retaining water
Fungus may release lichen acids = dissolve surface compounds to free up inorganic metabolites
What kind of symbiosis are lichens
Mutualistic
Obligate symbionts = expand ecological range for both
How would lichens be controlled parasitism
Fungi drastically slows partners growth (consume their nutrients)
What is a microbial consortium
Two or more microbes living in a symbiotic relationship
Common consortium features in freshwater lakes
- Numerous non-motile photosynthetic bacteria
- A central motile non-photosynthetic bacterium
