Microbial ecology
Microbial Ecology
Microbial ecology (pronounced: mi·cro·bial e·col·o·gy) is the study of microorganisms in their natural environments. It is a branch of ecology that involves the interaction of microorganisms with one another and with their environment.
Etymology
The term "microbial ecology" is derived from three Greek words: "micros" meaning small, "bios" meaning life, and "oikos" meaning house. The term "ecology" was coined by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866, which he defined as the comprehensive science of the relationship of the organism to the environment.
Definition
Microbial ecology is the study of the behavior and interaction of microorganisms in their environment. It involves the study of the structure and function of microbial communities and the interactions between microbes and the environment. The field of microbial ecology includes the study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae in all types of environments including water, soil, and air.
Related Terms
- Microorganism: A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus.
- Ecology: The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
- Bacteria: A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some which can cause disease.
- Virus: A small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.
- Fungi: Any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter.
- Protozoa: A phylum or grouping of phyla which comprises the single-celled microscopic animals.
- Algae: A simple, non-flowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Microbial ecology
- Wikipedia's article - Microbial ecology
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