Microbial ecology, The study of the interrelationships of microorganisms in their natural environment , Guilds, Populations of microorganisms that perform linked metabolic activities, Communities, Sets of guilds, are usually heterogeneous, exceptions exist in extreme environments, Microhabitats, Small niches where populations and guilds reside because of optimal conditions, Habitats, Physical locations where organisms are found, made of microorganisms, Ecosystems, Organisms, their abiotic environment, and the relationship between the two, Biodiversity, The number of species in a given ecosystem, Biomass, The quantity of all organisms in an ecosystem, Biogeochemical cycle, A circuit or pathway through which organic compounds or a chemical element is changed from one state to another through different parts of an ecosystem , Biotic, Living parts of an ecosystem (animals, plants, microbes, etc), Abiotic, Non-living parts of an ecosystem (rocks, water, atmosphere, etc), Biogeochemistry, The study of chemical transformation through these cycles, Primary biogeochemical cycle, The carbon cycle, Nitrogen fixation, nitrogen gas is reduced to ammonia by the enzyme nitrogenase, only a small number of prokaryotes can do this , Littoral zone, area along the shoreline with lots of rooted vegetation and good light, nutrients enter here, most abundant and diverse life , Limnetic zone, well-lit, upper layer of water away from the shore, occupied by phytoplankton like algae, cyanobacteria, and zooplankton, etc, Profundal zone, deeper water below the limnetic- low light, low O2, Benthic zone, sediments at the bottom of a lake, contains benthos (bottom-dwelling organisms), low temps and low O2 levels , Abyssal zone, Deep ocean trenches, Bioterrorism, Using biological agents to incapacitate or kill civilians or military personnel during a terrorist attack or war.

Chapter 23

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