Microorganisms Taxonomy Habitat
Fungi Viruses Bacteria
Frozen Habitats Geothermal Habitats Alkaliphillic Habitats Halophilic Habitats
Geothermal Habitats
The Microbial World - photograph The Microbial World - photograph The Microbial World - photograph The Microbial World - photograph
You can see a clump of grass growing in the middle of this hot environment. It grows because that part of the pool is cool enough for it to survive in. The different colors of each section shows that different kinds of thermophiles live in this pool. The colors are a result of the process of photosynthesis. You can see the red and brown colors of the different kinds of thermophiles growing in this thermal pool. Each kind of thermophile grows in the temperature that is best for it. You see different colors in this hot spring. That happens because the temperature is hotter in some areas of the spring than in other parts. This is called a thermal fumarole and you can see a collection of green prokaryotes that grow in the heat that it gives.

 

USGS Photograph

 

 USGS Photograph
Hot Springs
Hot springs like the ones above form where underground water and cracks in the earth's crust are found. The heat from the center of the earth makes the water hot and it boils up to the surface through cracks. It brings minerals like limestome with it to the surface. That is what makes these rock like pool formations.
 
The Microbial Web Photograph The Microbial Web Photograph The Microbial Web Photograph The Microbial Web Photograph
A channel of microorganisms flows from a thermal pool. The footprints are buffalo prints. They like the heat of thermal areas during the winter. The flow from this thermal pool formed a terrace of limestone. The different colors of the sections in the terrace each are a different color. This is because different microorganisms like the temperature in each pool. You can see different colored microorganisms streaming down the side of this figure. The temperature in each of the strips of color is different because there are different organisms growing in each one. This happens because each strip is a different temperature and the microorganisms like different temperatures. This pool of microorganisms was formed by water seeping from a hot pool. Cyanobacteria and other microorganisms are living in this pool of hot water.
Self-heating Habitats
USDA phototgaph USDA photograph USDA photograph USDA photograph
Manure, or animal wastes, is composted and used as fertilizer. Compost is used around interstate platforms to help grow plants that will reduce erosion. The microorganism called Pfiesteria piscicida is used in this composting of organic matter. This machine mixes up compost made up of wood chips, hay, and manure. It will be used as fertilizer.
 
 
 

Photographic Citations:
Photographic citations can be found by passing the mouse over the photograph.

Text Citations:

The Microbial World:
permission to use photographs:
http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/microbes/microbes.htm#top

USDA:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may98/comp0598.htm

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