Benefit and Harmful Activity of Microbes
*Note-all life on earth would perish without microbes
1.) Decomposition-without microbes we would have an over abundance of
dead things. We would run out of space on earth. They recycle nutrients.
2.) Nitrogen Fixation-some bacteria live in the roots of Leguminous
plants (soy beans, peanuts). These crops are used to redeposit Nitrogen into
the soil.
3.) Photosynthesis-Oxygen production, Carbon Dioxide is absorbed by
Algae, Blue-Green Bacteria (Cyanobacteria) and converted to Oxygen.
4.) Food Chain-bacteria are an important component of the food chain.
They allow for recycling of nutrients, and some microbes are actual parts of
the food chain. Bacteria in ocean vents are the source of energy for ocean
vent ecosystems.
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