The Good, the Bad, and the Ecological MICROORGANISMS The Good, the Bad, and the Ecological Use this PowerPoint to help students check their foldable for relevant information.

Maintain equilibrium in the living world as: Producers Decomposers BACTERIA….THE GOOD Maintain equilibrium in the living world as: Producers Decomposers Nitrogen Fixers Bacteria are vital to maintaining the living world.   Some function as producers in ecosystems. Ex. Cyanobacteria Some work as decomposers recycling all material when things die. Nitrogen Fixers convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates that plants can use; animals can then eat plants for their nitrogen needs.

Many Human Uses: BACTERIA….THE GOOD Food production Cleaning up oil spills Human digestion Protection from infection Vitamin production Human Uses: beer and food making, used to clean up oil spills, live naturally in human intestines to keep body in equilibrium by killing bad bacteria. Also chemically make vitamins in the intestines.

Disrupt equilibrium by: BACTERIA….THE BAD Disrupt equilibrium by: Causing disease Many resources (time and money) needed to control/eliminate them. Bacteria can be pathogenic (able to cause disease). They cause disease and can upset an organism’s equilibrium. They use cells for food. They release toxins that damage cells. Many example of disease: Lyme disease, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Bacterial Meningitis, Strep Throat, Tooth Decay, Anthrax, Gonorrhea, Syphillis, Pneumonia. Bacterial growth can be controlled by heat sterilization, disinfectants, vaccines, antibiotics, proper storage, cooking and handling of food.

BACTERIA….THE ECOLOGICAL Decomposers Nitrogen Fixers Food chains Symbiotic relationships Other living things could not live without them. Bacteria function as decomposers helping to recycle nutrients and by helping the environment maintain equilibrium. Function to breakdown waste materials. Nitrogen fixers: converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates for use by plants. Example – Rhizobium bacteria in roots of some plants are nitrogen fixers. Other living things could not live without bacteria. All food chains terminate with decomposers such as bacteria.  

Maintain equilibrium in the living world as: FUNGI….THE GOOD Maintain equilibrium in the living world as: Decomposers Human Uses: Food Production We eat many food products that are fungal organisms or are byproducts of fungi. Ex. Bread, mushrooms Some food products are a result of fungal (yeast) anaerobic respiration (fermentation). Work as decomposers to breakdown dead organisms. Return nutrients to the soil for use by other organisms.

Disrupt equilibrium by: FUNGI….THE BAD Disrupt equilibrium by: Causing disease Many resources (time and money) needed to control/eliminate them. Fungi can be pathogenic. They cause disease and can upset an organism’s equilibrium. Examples in Plants: Corn smut, Mold on fruits and veggies, Wheat rust Examples in Humans: Athlete’s foot, Ringworm, Thrush, Vaginal Yeast Infections Examples in other animals: Cordyceps in grasshoppers. Mildew and mold grow in bathrooms, etc. Black mold – can lead to respiratory illness.

Symbiotic relationships FUNGI….THE ECOLOGICAL Decomposers Food chains Symbiotic relationships Other living things could not live without them. Fungi play an essential role in maintaining equilibrium in nearly every ecosystem. Fungi also function as decomposers helping to recycle nutrients in ecosystems. Fungi break down the waste and bodies of other organisms. Fungi are essential to many ecosystems because they form symbiotic relationships with other organisms: Examples include Lichens: Algae and fungus live together mutualistically. Algae provide food to fungus. Fungus provides water/minerals to algae. Mychorrizae: mutualistic relationship between roots of plants and fungus.

Maintain equilibrium in the living world as: PROTISTA….THE GOOD Maintain equilibrium in the living world as: Producers Decomposers O2 Producers, and in Symbiotic relationships Animal-like protists may live symbiotically with other organisms or they may break down waste. Protists are an important part of the food chain serving as producers (algae).  Kelp beds (algae) provide homes and food to much sea life.

Human Uses: PROTISTA….THE GOOD Food production Other products: plastics, waxes, paint, deodorant, lubricants Algae are used to make many food products for human consumptions: Ice cream for example!! Chemicals in algae are used to make plastics, waxes, paint, deodorant, lubricants, etc.

Disrupt equilibrium by: PROTISTA….THE BAD Disrupt equilibrium by: Causing disease Algal blooms Many resources (time and money) needed to control/eliminate them. Protists can be pathogenic. They can cause disease and can upset an organism’s equilibrium. Malaria – caused by Plasmodium, Trypanosoma - sleeping sickness, Amebic Dysentery, Giardia.    Algal Blooms – can disrupt equilibrium of ecosystems by robbing waters of oxygen. Other plant and animal life are affected. Red Tide – Shellfish incorporate the algae into their tissues; the shellfish becomes toxic and is dangerous if consumed by other animals. Potato Famine in 1846 caused by a protist (water mold) called Phytophthora infestans. There are other plant diseases caused by protists that include mildews and blights of grapes and tomatoes.

PROTISTA….THE ECOLOGICAL Base of many food chains Many are decomposers Symbiotic relationships Many protists are the base of many food chains. They help to replenish the earth’s oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Some protists aid in the digestive process of other organisms. Ex. Termites are able to digest the cellulose in wood because of a protozoan that lives in their guts. Many protists also work as nature’s recyclers as do fungi and bacteria. They work to help things decompose or rot, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem for use by other organisms.

On the Back of Foldable: Divide into three sections, one for each Kingdom Bacteria- 1. Draw the three shapes of bacteria 2. Draw and Label E. coli 3 . List 3 diseases caused by Bacteria Protista- 1. List and Describe the 3 kinds of protists. 2. Draw and Label a Paramecium. 3. List 3 diseases caused by Protista. Fungi- 1. Draw and Label a Mushroom (pg 528) 2. Compare and Contrast a decomposer, a saprobe, and a parasite 3. List 3 diseases caused by fungi.

This is photograph of the top of the foldable, closed.

This is the foldable with the first flaps for each column lifted This is the foldable with the first flaps for each column lifted. These sections list the good aspects for each of the categories of microorganisms.

This is the foldable with the first and second flaps opened This is the foldable with the first and second flaps opened. These columns are showing the bad aspects of each category of microorganisms.

This is the final section of the foldable with all three flaps lifted to the ecological section.