Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
131 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Microbes that live in extreme conditions of temperature, acidity, alkalnity, or saninity are called ________.
|
extremophiles
|
|
Most extremophiles are members of the _________ group.
|
Archae
|
|
What are extremophiles?
|
microbes that live in extreme conditions of temperature, acidity, alkalinity or salinity
|
|
What is symbiosis?
|
the interaction between coexisting organisms or populations
|
|
__________ is the interaction between coexisting organisms or population
|
symbiosis
|
|
What are mycorrhizae?
|
symbiotic fungi live in and on plant roots that increase the surface area and nutrient absorption of the plant
|
|
mycorrihizae are symbiotic fungi that live where?
|
in and on plant roots
|
|
What is the function of mycorrihizae?
|
increase the surface area and nutrient absorption of the plant
|
|
Why are biogeochemical cycles important?
|
they recycle elements; microorganisms oxidize and reduce elements as needed
|
|
The primary biogeochemical cycle is what?
|
the carbon cycle
|
|
carbon dioxide is incorporated, or fixed into organic compounds by what?
|
photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs
|
|
Explain the carbon cycle
|
- carbon dioxide is incorporated into organic compounds by photautotrophs and chemoautotrophs
- these orgaic compounds provide nutrients for chemoheterotrophs - chemoheterotrophs release carbon dioxide that is then used by phoautotrophs - caron is removed from the cycle when it is i CaCO3 and fossil fuels |
|
_________ makes u almost eighty percent of the earth's atmosphere.
|
molecular nitrogen
|
|
In a process called _________, the amino groups of amino acids are removed and converted into ammonia (NH3).
|
deamination
|
|
What is deamination?
|
amino groups of amino acids are removed and converted into ammonia (NH3).
|
|
For deamination to occur, amino acids are first released. What is the release of ammonia called?
|
ammonification
|
|
How does ammonification occur?
|
First, proteins from dead cells and waste products are decomposed into amino acids = microbial decomposition.
Then, these amino acids release amino groups by deamination. These released amino groups are converted into ammonia (NH3), and this final step is known as ammonification. |
|
In a process called ________, proteins are hydrolytically broken down into amino acids.
|
microbial decomposition
|
|
In a process called ___________, nitrogen in the ammonium ion is oxidized to produce nitrate.
|
nitrification
|
|
In nitritification, what is produced?
|
nitrate
|
|
What is the main reactant in nitrification?
|
nitrogen in the ammonium ion
|
|
What are the two stages of nitrification?
|
First, Nitrosomonas oxidizes ammonium to nitrites.
Then, Nitrobacter oxidizes nitrites to nitrates. |
|
in general, nitrogen assimilated into plants and animals after nitrification go through what? (steps of nitrogen cycle)
|
- decomposition then
- ammonification then - then nitrofication again |
|
in general, nitrogen assimilated into plants and animals after ________ go through decomposition, ammonification, and nitrofication.
|
nitrofication
|
|
in general, nitrogen in the atmosphere goes through what? (steps of the nitrogen cycle)
|
- fixation
- nitrification - denitrification |
|
________ bacteria reduce the nitrogen in nitrates to molecular nitrogen (N2).
|
Denitrifying
|
|
Denitrifying backteria does what?
|
reduces the nitrogen in nitrates to molecular nitrogen
|
|
N2 is converted into ammonia by what?
|
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
|
|
Microorganisms decompose proteins from dead cells and release _______.
|
amino acids
|
|
Ammonia is liberated by ____________ of the amino acids.
|
microbial ammonification
|
|
The nitrogen in ammonia is oxidized to do what?
|
to produce nitrates for energy by nitrifying bacteria
|
|
Ammonium and nitrate are used by bacteria and plants to do what?
|
to synthesie amino acids that are assembled into proteins
|
|
What is nitrification?
|
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia with oxygen into nitrite followed with the oxidation of these nitrites into nitrates.
|
|
________ is the process that converts toxic ammonia to less harmful nitrate.
|
nitrification
|
|
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia with _________ into nitrite followed by the oxidation of these nitrites into nitrates.
|
oxygen
|
|
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ________ with oxygen into nitrate followed by the oxidation of these nitrites into nitrates.
|
ammonia
|
|
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia with oxygen into ______ followed by the oxidation of this ______ into nitrates.
|
nitrites
|
|
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia with oxygen into nitrites, followed by the oxidation of this nitrite into _______.
|
nitrate
|
|
________ is the process of releasing nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
|
denitrification
|
|
___________ is the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by soil bacteria and its release for plant use on the death of the bacteria
|
nitrogen fixation
|
|
The use of microorganisms to remove pollutants is called __________.
|
bioremediation
|
|
The use of microorganisms to remove _______ is called bioremediation.
|
pollutants
|
|
The use of microbes to detoxify or degrade pollutants is called __________.
|
bioremediation
|
|
_________ of oil-spills is greatly enhanced if the resident bacteria are provided with fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus.
|
bioremediation
|
|
bioremediation of oil spills is greatly enhanced if the resident bacteria are provided with what?
|
fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" bioremediation that makes use of microbes that have been selected for growth " |
bioaugmentation
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" bioremediation making use of specialized microbes " |
bioaugmentation
|
|
________ is a process used by gardeners to convert plant remains into the equivalent of natural humus.
|
composting
|
|
_______ can be used to promote biodegradation of organic matter.
|
composting
|
|
Photosynthethic algae are located in the ______ zone of a typical pond/lake.
|
limnetic
|
|
The _______ zone consists of the surface of the open water area away from the shore.
|
limnetic
|
|
The _______ zone is along the shore.
|
littoral
|
|
the littoral zone is ______ the shore.
|
along
|
|
The limnetic zone is _______ the shore.
|
away from
|
|
The _______ zone is the "middle" zone.
|
profundal
|
|
The ______ zone is the deeper water under the limnetic zone.
|
profundal
|
|
The ______ zone contains the sediment at the bottom
|
benthic
|
|
Microbial poulations of freshwater bodies tend to be most affected by the availability of ________.
|
light
|
|
Why is light the most important resource for microbial populations of freshwater bodies?
|
Photosynthethic algae are the main source of organic matter, and hence of energy, for the lake
|
|
The littoral, limnetic, profundal, and benthic zones describe zones of what type of water?
|
freshwater
|
|
photosynthethic algae are located in the ______ zone
|
limnetic
|
|
areas of the limnetic zone with sufficient oxygen contain what?
|
pseudomonads and species of Cytophaga, caulobacter, and hyphomicrobium
|
|
What type of microorganisms would you typically find in the profundal zone?
|
purple and green sulfur bacteria
|
|
What type of microorganisms would you expect to find in the benthic zone?
|
desulfovibrio, methane bacteria, and clostridium
|
|
You would expect to see lots of purple and green sulfur bacteria in the _______ zone.
|
profundal
|
|
You would expect to see lots of desulfovibrio in the _______ zone
|
benthic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of methane bacteria in the _______ zone
|
benthic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of clostridium in the ________ zone
|
benthic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of pseudomonads in the _______ zone
|
limnetic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of caulobacter in the ______ zone
|
limnetic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of hyphomicrobium in the ______ zone
|
limnetic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of cyano-bacteria in the _______ zone
|
limnetic
|
|
You would expect to see lots of algae in the _______ zone
|
limnetic
|
|
The support of oceanic life is largely dependent upon what?
|
phytoplankton
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" photosynthethic microscopic life " |
phytoplankton
|
|
What is microbial light emission?
|
bioluminescence
|
|
an enzyme called _______ is responsible for the light in bioluminescent organisms
|
luciferase
|
|
What is luciferase responsible for?
|
it is an enzyme responsible for the light in bioluminescent organisms.
|
|
What type of pollution can be found in water?
|
microbial pollution
|
|
What are two diseases that are caused by bacteria shed only in human feces?
|
typhoid fever and cholera
|
|
What are some common types of chemical pollution?
|
- industrial and agricultural chemicals reach the water
- rural waters have excessive amounts of nitrate from agricultural fertilizers - pesticides and flurorides contaminate water - metallic mercury |
|
________ is the result of the addion of pollutants or natural nutrients
|
eutrophication
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" caused by an overabundance of nutrients in lakes and streams " |
eutrophication
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" initially causes dense aquatic growth but then this aquatic growth dies and are degraded by bacteria who use up oxygen to do this. Fish and other organisms depend on that oxygen for survival, so eventually, they die as well " |
eutrophication
|
|
What is the main source of phosphates in lakes and streams?
|
muicipal waste containing detergents
|
|
What are indicator organisms?
|
organisms that are consistently present in human feces in substantial numbers, that are not in uncontaminated water normally. If these organisms are found to be in water, it INDICATES that the water has been contaminated with human wastes.
|
|
What term is best described:
" the presence of this tells us that water has been contaminated with human waste " |
fecal coliforms
|
|
_____ bacteria is a term for the most common indicator organism.
|
coliform
|
|
___________ is a measure of the biologically degradable organic matter in water.
|
biochemical oxygen demand
|
|
Biochemical oxygen demand is determined by what?
|
the amount of oxygen required by bacteria to metabolize the organic matter
|
|
The usual first step in sewage treatment is called _____________.
|
primary sewage treatment
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" large, floating materials in incoming wastewater are screened out. the sewage is allowed to flow through settling chambers to remove sand and similar gritty material, skimmers remove floating oil and grease, and floating debris is shredded through the ground. Then, the sewage passes through sedimentation tanks, where more solid matter settles out" |
describes the primary sewage treatment
|
|
Primary treatment removes about ________ of the biochemical oxygen demand of sewage
|
25-35%
|
|
The more oxygen that is used up as the bacteria degrade the organic matter in the same, the ________ the biochemical oxygen demand is .
|
higher
|
|
The ________ sewage treatment is/are mostly a physical removal.
|
primary
|
|
The ________ sewage treatment is/are mostly a biological removal.
|
secondary, tertiary
|
|
Primary sewage treatment is the removal of solid matter called ________
|
sludge
|
|
_________ is the biological degradation of organic matter after primary treatment.
|
secondary sweage treatment
|
|
Two commonly used methods of secondary sewage treatment are ________ and ________ .
|
activated sludge systems and trickling filters
|
|
During the ___________ air or pure oxygen is passed through the sludge.
|
activated sludge system
|
|
How does the activated sludge system work?
|
air or pure oxygen is passed through the sludge. Large numbers of sewage-metabolizing microbes are in this sludge, and in the presence of oxygen they oxidize much of the sewage organic matter into carbon dioxide and water.
|
|
The most effective method of secondary sewage treatment is the _________.
|
activated sludge system
|
|
__________ describes a sewage treatment that incorporates the use of biofilms.
|
trickling filters
|
|
What term is best described:
" a biofilm of aerobic microbes grow on a bed of rocks or molded plastic. Sewage is sprayed over this. The aerobic microbes of the biofilm oxidize much of the organic matter in the sewage into carbon dioxide and water. " |
trickling filters
|
|
How do trickling filters work?
|
" a biofilm of aerobic microbes grow on a bed of rocks or molded plastic. Sewage is sprayed over this. The aerobic microbes of the biofilm oxidize much of the organic matter in the sewage into carbon dioxide and water. "
|
|
Sewage solids collecting on the bottom are called ________.
|
sludge
|
|
____________ works by encouraging the growth of bacteria that degrade sewage into methane and carbon dioxide.
|
anaerobic sludge digesters
|
|
The main disadvantage of oxidation ponds is that they require large amounts of what?
|
large areas of land
|
|
What is built for oxidation ponds to work?
|
an artificial lake
|
|
What is an artificial lake used for in oxidation ponds?
|
to mimic secondary sewage treatment (aerobic conditions by increasing waves)
|
|
Sludge is placed in an __________; bacteria degrade organic matter and produce simpler organic compounds like methane and carbon dioxide.
|
anaerobic sludge digester
|
|
________ can be used in rural areas to provide primary treatment of sewage.
|
septic tanks
|
|
___________ require a large leaching field for the effluent.
|
septic tanks
|
|
What process is best described:
" nitrate ion to nitrite ion to nitrous oxide to nitrogen gas " |
denitrification
|
|
________ is the process in which nitrogen gas is converted to ammonia
|
nitrogen fixation
|
|
Bacteria that are responsible for nitrogen fixation all rely on the same enzyme, known as __________
|
nitrogenase
|
|
What does nitrogenase do?
|
It is an enzyme that helps bacteria that are responsible for nitrogen fixation (converting nitrogen gas into ammonia)
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria are found in particularly high concentrations here " |
rhizosphere
|
|
What term is best described:
" a region roughly two millimeters from the plant root" |
rhizosphere
|
|
What term is best described by the following statement:
" bacteria that grow 'inside rocks', as they must grow in the near absence of oxygen and with minimal nutrient supplies " |
endoliths
|
|
The term endoliths, when broken down, literally means what?
|
inside rocks
|
|
The primary produces in what systems are chemoautotrophic bacteria?
|
ecological communities WITHOUT light energy/minimal light energy
|
|
The ammonium ion generally forms under _______ conditions
|
anaerobic
|
|
hydrogen sulfide generally forms under _________ conditions
|
anaerobic
|
|
In the sulfur cycle, sulfur dioxide, produced by combustion of fossil fuels, combines with _______ to form sulfurous acid.
|
water
|
|
In the sulfur cycle, sulfur dioxide, produced by combustion of fossil fuels, combines with water to form ___________.
|
sulfurous acid
|
|
In the sulfur cycle, _________, produced by combustion of fossil fuels, combines with water to form sulfurous acid.
|
sulfur dioxide
|
|
Endolithic bacteria are autotrophic bacteria that use _________ as an energy source.
|
hydrogen
|
|
endolithic bacteria are ________ bacteria that use hydrogen as an energy source
|
autotrophic
|
|
________ treatment provides drinkable water.
|
tertiary
|
|
_______ treatment provides water for irrigation only.
|
secondary
|