Explain the ecological significance of different nutritional types of bacteria

Explain the ecological significance of different nutritional types of bacteria

Chemo-heterotrophic bacteria use chemical substance obtained externally as their source of food and energy. They are of vital ecological importance depending on their activities in the ecosystem as illustrated;

• Saprophytic bacteria; these derive organic materials from dead decaying organic matter. Examples include, putrefying bacteria. These bacteria are the main organisms to decay. They decompose dead bodies of plants and animals and covert their complex compounds into simpler substances which are taken up by green plants for the synthesis of new complex organic compounds, in this way, these bacteria help in the cycling of matter which would otherwise have been lost from the ecosystem.
• Symbiotic bacteria; several bacteria are found in nature in symbiotic relationship with man and other animals. Cellulose-producing bacteria in the gut of wood-eating ants offer the best example. In exchange for shelter provided by the ants, these bacteria help to produce cellulose enzyme that helps these organisms to utilize cellulose in their diet. As a result, they help in recycling of nutrients locked in the cellulose of wood. Also the bacterium, rhizobium, fixes nitrogen in a symbiotic association with roots of leguminous plants such as peas and beans. This increases the nitrate content of the soil and can be utilized by organisms in the ecosystem.
• Parasitic bacteria; these are important in causing disease to organisms in the ecosystem. Examples include; cocci and bacilli. By causing disease, they may lead to death of some non-resistant organisms in the ecosystem leading to population regulation and reducing competition for resources in the ecosystem.
• Chemo autotrophic bacteria are more commonly known as chemosynthetic bacteria. They use carbon dioxide as the source of carbon but obtain their energy from chemical reactions. Examples include nitrifying bacteria (nitrosomonas, nitrococcus and nitrobacter), iron bacteria, hydrogen bacteria etc. they enrich the soil with nitrogen through their oxidative reactions.
• Photo autotrophic bacteria are also referred to as photosynthetic bacteria. They use sun light energy as their source of energy and carbon dioxide as the source of carbon. They are important in introducing oxygen to the atmosphere and also providing organic materials for heterotrophic micro-organisms in the environment.

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