In quantitative terms, the smallest living organisms - the most numerous inhabitants of the land, the seas, the atmosphere.According to scientists, in only one gram of soil can accommodate more than one hundred million bacteria.And in regard to the settlement of Earth microbes occupy an honorable first place.After all, they have appeared on a planet 3.7 billion years ago.And some of them have since changed little even!What is the role of bacteria in nature?In which global processes involved, these microscopic creatures?Which ones are useful and which are harmful to the human body?All these questions will try to give brief answers in this article.
little about bacteria
Nature, creating bacteria provided them with an unprecedented margin and many qualities missing from most of the other inhabitants of the planet Earth.They are able to withstand high and low temperatures, easy to exist at high and low atmospheric pressure, with little or no oxygen.Microorganisms as if intended for settling new worlds in unknown fastening, even uninhabited areas.With a fairly primitive structure (most - celled) bacteria have a huge margin of safety, are perhaps the most effective of the known existing forms of life.
where they live
These organisms are ubiquitous, they are found everywhere: on land, in the oceans and seas, in the air and even inside other organisms.They are a great multitude, myriad.Despite this, the bacteria were "familiar" man only recently, following the invention, an optical device multiplies objects.Then the scientists were able to see them, they say, personally.And before that huge colonies of bacteria existed unnoticed, unseen help or harm mankind.What is the role of bacteria in nature?What are assisting, and what harm?Let's look under the microscope!
positive role of bacteria
These ancient inhabitants of the planet seemed to care about their habitat area, bringing great benefit to the entire planet and to humanity in general, in particular.The positive role of bacteria can be seen in the different spheres of influence: the nature, the atmosphere, man.Let us consider each of them.
orderlies nature
The fact is that many bacteria eat dead remains of other creatures, as a kind of "caretakers", clearing rubbish from nature and do not allow wastes to accumulate.In science, this phenomenon is called saprotroph.Without this kind of bacteria to the world just choked on the mass of waste to be disposed of permanently.That is what many microorganisms acting as nurses.
Blue-green algae
And these cyanobacteria, formerly mistakenly called algae, are able to participate in photosynthesis.Positive role of bacteria of this type is the oxygen mass production.Scientists have determined that in the early times of these micro-organisms began to form the Earth's atmosphere.As a result, it turned out exactly the way we used to feel it.Of course, in modern environments oxygen by photosynthesis produce not only blue-green algae.Still, the championship and the lion's share - behind them.Without these bacteria could not have been the formation of flora and fauna on the planet in the form in which they exist today.
Circulation of substances
Another positive role of bacteria - participation in a worldwide circulation of substances in nature.On land and at sea, in the air constantly going global exchange of elements.All substances on the planet Earth passed from one organism to another.Without microorganisms, such a transition would be simply impossible.The most studied science process the nitrogen cycle, which consists of several stages: fixation, oxidation, reduction (by rotting or ammonification).In all three cases, the processes are carried out by certain groups of bacteria.This nodule and aerobic microorganisms involved in the decomposition process and the conversion of the protein.Scientists have identified the involvement of these microscopic creatures in the reproduction and transformation of carbon dioxide, sulfur, iron, phosphorus.Currently under further investigation of these phenomena.
food chain
What is the role of bacteria in the context of the power of living beings?Despite the fact that these organisms are microscopically small, they serve as food for some larger entities.Which, in turn, feed on others.Of course, for example for people bacteria are not as a significant part of the diet.But indirectly we still eat it, without noticing.A striking example - food preservation and the whole barrel "kislomolochka" (by the way, beer and wine are also the result of work of bacteria and fungi).In the national cuisine are always present such products.
for human
What role in the life of bacteria (for a man)?The microorganisms living in the intestine are friendly and good-natured "neighbors."These include Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides and E. coli, enterococci, lactobacilli.All of them make useful microflora and perform protective and digestive functions.It was found that throughout the gut microorganisms weight is about three kilograms.It's pretty much in percentage terms.
negative role of bacteria
But these microorganisms play in the environment and human life is not only a positive role.In our body, some bacteria (about 1%) may have a pathogenic effect in certain circumstances.Great danger fraught with parasitic pathogens that can cause infectious diseases: plague, cholera and so on. D. Of the less dangerous diseases can be called a sore throat, inflammation of the lungs.So, perhaps, scientists prefer to keep these little pests under control.
Another negative role of bacteria - their participation in the deterioration of edible.Under certain conditions, they are able to "eat" left out of the refrigerator for the food pretty quick time.After that, for the people, these products have become unusable.
