Ch 27 Environmental MicrobiologyMicrobes have small genomes but canBiological definition of Organismal interactionsPowerPoint PresentationSlide 5Biogeochemical cyclesThe Biogeochemical cyclesThe carbon cycleChemoheterotrophs releaseSlide 10The nitrogen cycleMore nitrogen stuffSlide 13Slide 14Sulfur cycleSlide 16Sulfur CycleThe Phosphorous CycleThe Phosphorus CycleLife Without SunshineUse of chemicals in soil and waterDecomposition by MicrobesBioremediationSolid Municipal Waste pilesAquatic conditionsFreshwater DonationRoll of microorganism in water qualityWaterborne DiseasesWater quality testsColiformsWater TreatmentSlide 32Sewage TreatmentMore sewage treatmentSlide 35Activated SludgeAlternative treatments of sewageSlide 38Slide 39Sludge produced by sewage treatment plants.Anaerobic Sludge DigesterCh 27 Environmental MicrobiologyWhat do Microbes do?How can we use this to our advantage?Microbes have small genomes but can•Not do a lot, but what do, do well•Extremophiles–Microbes live in extreme conditions of•Temperature•Acidity•Alkalinity•Salinity•Eubacteria vs ArchaebacteriaBiological definition of Organismal interactions•Symbiosis: a relationship between two different species–Parasitism: one org gets nutrients from another–Mutualism: both partners benefit–Commensalisms: one benefits more•Other examples?Biogeochemical cycles•Matter can neither be created or destroyed•A constant amount of matter in the environment must be recycled•Microbes are essential in the conversion of nutrients into organic and usable formats•Microbes are essential in the conversion of nutrients into the inorganic formThe Biogeochemical cyclesThe carbon cycle•Photoautotrophs•Chemoautorophs•Both convert inorganic forms of carbon into organic forms using external sources of energyChemoheterotrophs release •Inorganic form of carbon (CO2) to complete the cycle.•Non living sinks include•CaCO3 and fossil fuelsThe nitrogen cycle•Local shortages because of Nitrogen stuff•Microbes decompose proteins form dead cells and release amino acids•Ammonia is liberated by microbial ammonificaiton of amino acids•Ammonia is oxidized to produce nitrates for energy by nitrifying bacteriaMore nitrogen stuff•Denitrifying bacteria reduce nitrogen in nitrates to molecular nitrogen•N2 is converted into ammonia by nitrogen fixing bacteria•Ammonium and nitrate are used by bacteria and plants to synthesize amino acids•Fertilization and microbes•Cyanobacteria for a symbiosis with small floating fern Azolla in rice paddy waters.Sulfur cycle•Plants and certain microbes can use SO42- to make amino acids•H2S is oxidized to form SO42-Sulfur CycleProteins and waste products Amino acidsMicrobial decompositionAmino acids (–SH)Microbial dissimilationH2SH2SThiobacillusSO42– (for energy, by respiration)SO42–Microbial & plant assimilationAmino acidsThe Phosphorous CycleThe Phosphorus Cycle•Inorganic phosphorus is solubilized by microbial acids•Made available to plants and other microbes•Is soluble in water•Combines with calcium in calcium phosphate deposits of ancient seas.•Primary producers in most ecosystems are photoautotrophs•Primary producers in deep ocean and endolithic communities are chemoautotrophic bacteriaLife Without SunshineH2S SO42–Provides energy for bacteria which may be used to fix CO2CO2SugarsProvides carbon for cell growthCalvin CycleUse of chemicals in soil and water•Many man made chemicals do not biodegrade because they are not made by living organisms•Why?Decomposition by MicrobesFigure 27.8Components of agent orangeBioremediation•Use of microorganism to remove pollution•Cheaper•Can use natural organism•Is helped by preventing limited nutrientsSolid Municipal Waste piles•Many municipal waste piles are inefficiently run because they are dry and anaerobicAquatic conditions•Biofilms are composed of whole communities of microbes that are metabolically diverse•Bodies of water are naturally set up to process waste•Tend to grow in presence of oxygen and light•Use is best when oxygen content is increased•Phytoplankton in oceans are primary producers in the open oceanFreshwater DonationFigure 27.12Roll of microorganism in water quality•Biomagnifications•Indicators of fecal contamination•Blooms•EutrophicationWaterborne DiseasesTable 27.2Water quality tests•Coliforms are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, gram negative non endospore forming rods that ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas within 48 hours of been placed in a medium at 35’C•Fecal Coliforms predominantly E. coli are used to indicate the presence of human fecies•Aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, gram-negative, non–endospore forming rods that ferment lactose to acid + gas within 48 hr, at 35°C•Indicator organisms–Used to detect fecal contamination•MPN–Most probable number/100 ml of waterColiformsWater Treatment•Water held in a holding reservoir long enough that suspended matter settles•Flocculation treatment uses a chemical such as alum to coalesce and settle colloidal material•Filtration removes protozoan cyst and other microbes•Drinking water is disinfected with chlorine to kill remaining pathogenic bacteriaSewage Treatment•The quality of life that we see in our first world countries is due to our treatment of sewage•Primary treatment: removal of solid materials (35% BOD)•Secondary treatment: Reduction of BOD by the metabolic (95%BOD) degradation of organic matterMore sewage treatment•BOD biochemical oxygen demand•Tertiary provides essentially drinkable water is much more expensive to doActivated SludgeFigure 27.20a,bAlternative treatments of sewage•Septic tanks•Oxidation pondsSludge produced by sewage treatment plants.•CO2 + 4 H2  CH4 + 2 H2O•CH3COOH  CH4 + CO2Anaerobic Sludge DigesterFigure