Micro chapter 6 Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is the Carbon Cycle?
series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.
Describe the energy flow between organisms in an ecosystem
It first starts with the sun sending out a certain amount of energy in which is absorbed by plants but only 10 percent of that energy is absorbed by the plant. that plant is then eaten by another creature which then only 10 percent of that energy is absorbed so on and so forth
Why are phototrophs important?
They convert the energy in the sun into ATP
ex. green plants and algae
Why are autotrophs important?
They can make organic carbon from inorganic carbon (CO2 —-> sugars)
ex. green plants and algae
What is nitrogen fixation and why is it important to organisms?
N2 —-> NH3 because inorganic compounds are essential to sustain life
How does nitrogen affect the growth of organisms?
All organisms need N to make amino acids nucleotides and more. No more N no more growth
Describe the meaning of optimum growth temperature?
the enzymes in the organisms work more efficiently and are in the correct shape. Membrane lipids are intact and are a good barrier.
Describe Barophile
organisms that live at a very high pressure at the bottom of the ocean
What is a Photoautotrophs
Is an organisms that that uses light and carbon dioxide as a source of energy and carbon
What is a photoheterotroph?
Is an organism that uses light for energy and organic compounds for carbon
What is a chemoautotroph?
Is an organism that uses chemical compounds as an energy source and carbon as a carbon source.
What is a chemoheterotroph?
is an organism that uses chemical compounds as a energy source and organic compound as a carbon source
What is a microaerophile
Microorganisms that used O2 in metabolism but its not always required and can only tolerate oxygen in amounts less than atmospheric pressure
what is a facultative anaerobe?
microorganisms that grow best in oxygen but its not required.
What is an anaerobe?
Do not use oxygen in metabolism.
What is a psychrophile?
organisms that love the cold. Live mainly in 10 degrees C and they don’t cause disease in humans. live in the sow and cold water
ex. Algae
what is a mesophile?
organisms that live mainly in between 20 and 40 degrees C many live in animals and humans through pathogens and normal flora
What is a Thermophile?
organisms that prefer between 40 to 80 degrees C they live in compost piles and hot springs
What is a hyperthermophile?
Organisms that live in about 80 degree C mostly archaea they have certain aspects that allow them to live in high temps
What is a neutrophile?
is an organism that’s pH living in mainly near neutral
what is a acidophile (obligate vs. acid tolerant)?
Organisms that grow best in acidic environments. obligate organisms require acidic environments while acid tolerant just tolerate it
What is a alkalinophile?
organisms that grow best in an alkaline environment
How does the concentration of a solution affect microbes?
Most organisms cant live in a hypertonic solution. and hydrostatic pressure is found with water where some microorganisms cant live in high pressures
what is the difference between halophiles and facultative halophiles
Halophiles grow best in hypertonic solutions but will explode in freshwater. Facultative halophiles do not require but can tolerate high salt
