Microbial Diversity
Microbial Diversity - Related Videos
05:06
Microbial and Fungal Diversity - Concepts
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2019
Bacteria and fungi are two highly diverse groups of organisms that can have significant beneficial or detrimental impacts on human health. For this reason, it is important to understand and distinguish between individual species of these groups. As you will recall, biological taxonomists group organisms based on their phylogenetic relatedness. The three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota segregate life into three distinct groupings. While all bacteria fall within the domain...
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Microbial and Fungal Diversity - Student Protocol
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2019
Examining Microbial Colony Structures ExpandTo begin, collect your allocated culture plates and then remove the Parafilm and lid from one of them. Place the uncovered plate under a dissecting microscope and then observe the individual communities within each quadrant of the plate. As the colonies are identified, fill out the observed colony properties in the appropriate column in the table. Click Here to download Table 1 Then, repeat the observations for each of the other two bacterial species.
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Microbial and Fungal Diversity - Instructor Prep
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2019
Nutrient Agar and Bacterial Culture Plate Preparation ExpandAdd 23 g of nutrient agar to a 2,000 mL beaker containing 1 L of distilled water 4 – 5 days before the activity. Place the beaker on a hotplate and set the hotplate to high, stirring the mixture with a stirring rod. When the agar has dissolved into the water, use a hot pad to transfer the beaker into an autoclave and set it to run at 121 °C for 15 minutes. When the cycle is finished, remove the beaker and allow it to cool to the touch...
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A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
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Cited by 8 •
2015
A novel reactor design, coined a high density bioreactor (HDBR), is presented for the cultivation and study of high density microbial communities. Here, the HDBR is successfully applied in a photobioreactor (PBR) configuration for the study of nitrogen metabolism by a mixed high density algal community.
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Community Diversity - Concepts
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2019
Populations do not live in isolation; thus, every population interacts with others in certain ways. These interactions give rise to a network of populations. Hence, an ecological community is composed of such population networks of various species interacting with each other within the same area. These biological, or biotic, components may also closely interact with non-living, or abiotic, components, forming an ecosystem. Ecosystems may be as small as the microbial communities inside the human...
FAQs
Horizontal gene transfer introduces genetic material between microorganisms, adding variation beyond mutation alone. This process can alter the traits present within a population and contribute to differences in metabolic capabilities or ecological behavior. In biology, recognizing this mechanism helps explain why related microbial populations may display different characteristics under similar environmental conditions.
These environmental conditions act as filters that favor microorganisms whose traits support persistence under particular circumstances. Changes in nutrient availability, temperature, pH, or oxygen can therefore shift which populations remain abundant and how they interact. Examining these variables helps researchers connect community composition with the ecological conditions operating in a habitat.
Differences in genes and metabolism influence how microorganisms function within their surroundings, while ecological traits affect their relationships with other organisms. These differences can change community behavior and contribute to ecosystem stability or disruption. Studying all three levels together gives biologists a broader basis for interpreting microbial roles in habitats and hosts.
Cultivation examines microorganisms that can be grown under selected conditions, whereas microscopy provides direct visual information about microbial presence and characteristics. DNA-based methods reveal genetic patterns in populations and communities, including organisms that may not be characterized through cultivation. Combining these approaches provides a more informative picture than relying on one method alone.
A study can begin by examining a sample with microscopy, followed by cultivation under chosen conditions and DNA-based analysis of the microorganisms present. Researchers then compare the observed organisms, genetic patterns, traits, and environmental context. This integrated workflow connects detectable community composition with potential metabolic or ecological roles without depending on a single source of evidence.
Microbial diversity studies support environmental monitoring, investigation of nutrient cycling, and analysis of microbial contributions to host health and disease. They also help identify useful enzymes and medicines, while informing strategies for managing infectious or environmentally important microorganisms. These applications make community characterization relevant to ecology, health research, biotechnology, and environmental management.