prokaryotic diversity Flashcards
(232 cards)
Where are prokaryotes found
everywhere on the planet
what are the benefits of prokaryotes to the ecosystem
they are necessary for soil formation and stabilization and increase soil fertility, feed shrimp and flys
Where do prokaryotes thrive on the human body
mouth, nasal cavities, throat, ears, GI tract, vagina, skin especially moist areas,
how are prokaryotes necesary for soil formation
the breakdown of organic matter and development of biofilms
What do prokaryotes do with substances released from plant roots
they metabolize them and release the products back into the soil increasing fertility.
What halo bacteria do
decompose dead brine shrimp and nourish young brine shrimp and flies with products of bacteria metabolism
What does it mean to metabolically flexible
they can switch from one energy source to another depending on availability of sources, from one metabolic pathway to another
What is an example of prokaryotic cyanobacteria being metabolically flexible
it can switch from conventional lipid metabolism producing fatty aldehydes to a different type that creates biofuel such as fatty acids and wax esters
what functions do prokaryotes perform that are vital to life on earth
they capture (fixing) and recycle elements like carbon and nitrogen animals require organic carbon but are unable to use use inorganic carbon making them rely on prokaryotes to convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon they can use
what is carbon fixation
converting carbon dioxide into organic carbon
what is nitrogen fixation
the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia
why do plants and animals rely on nitrogen fixation
plants need ammonia to form different biomolecules for survival that are then fed to animals
What genus is an example of a nitrogen fixing bacteria
Rhizobium
Where do Rhizobium live
in the roots of legumes such as clover alfalfa and peas
how do Rhizobium help legumes
helps them survive by enabling them to nucleic acids
how do prokaryotes clean up the environment
some bacteria degrade toxic chemicals that pollute water and soil
which prokaryotes are human pathogens
less than 1% all bacteria
how do prokaryotes contribute to climate change
melting ice caps expose release carbon that are metabolized by prokaryotes producing carbon dioxide, and methane
what is a population
a group of individual organisms belong to the same species in a certain geographic area
what is a community
a group of interacting populations of organisms
what are cooperative interactions
interactions that benefit populaitons
what are competitive interactions
interactions where one population competes with another for resources
what is symbiosis
any interaction between different species in a community
what is mutualism
both populations benefit