The importance of bacteria in the ecosystem depends on their activities in the ecosystem

The importance of bacteria in the ecosystem depends on their activities in the ecosystem

• Saprophytic bacteria derive organic materials from decomposition of dead and decaying organic matter. Examples include; putrefying bacteria. They decompose dead bodies of plants and animals and covert their complex body building compounds into simpler substances. These are taken up by green plants and used to synthesize new organic compounds. In this way these bacteria help in recycling of materials which would otherwise have been lost from the ecosystem.
• Parasitic bacteria are important in causing disease to organisms in the ecosystem. They include cocci and bacilli. They diseases that may lead to death of non- resistant organisms in ecosystem. This leads to population regulation and reduction in competition for resources in the ecosystem. It may also lead to emergency of new species in the ecosystem.
• Symbiotic bacteria live in association with other organisms, deriving benefit from the and causing no harm to them. For example, a rhizobium bacterium which lives in association with roots of leguminous plants fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere into nitrates in the soil. These can then be utilized by plants and other organisms in the ecosystem. Cellulose producing bacteria in the gut of wood eating ants derive shelter from the ants but produce cellulose enzyme that helps the ants to utilize cellulose in their diets. They thus help in recycling of nutrients locked in the cellulose of wood.

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