https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00527 SUMMARY: In 2003, scientists discovered that giant viruses infected amoebas. These giant viruses are so big that they were mistaken for bacteria for the longest time. It wasn’t until scientists realized they contained no ribosomal DNA that these organisms were reclassified as viruses. From there, even more giant viruses were discovered. Some of the… Continue reading Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages
Category: IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS)
Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
Different Enzymes to Digest Different Plant Substrates
The fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants produces specific enzymes in response to different plant substrates SUMMARY: Leaf-cutter ants and a fungus called Leucoagaricus gongylophorus have a symbiotic relationship. The ants harvest plant material for the fungus to “eat” and then the ants feed off of the gongylidia. These swollen parts of the hyphae are no… Continue reading Different Enzymes to Digest Different Plant Substrates
Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest
Moss-cyanobacteria associations as biogenic sources of nitrogen in boreal forest ecosystems SUMMARY: Moss, cyanobacteria, and the trees of the boreal forest share a complicated relationship. This article first focuses on the nitrogen cycle, addressing the various sources of nitrogen and the factors (both abiotic and biotic) that affect nitrogen fixation. Turns out, temperature, water availability,… Continue reading Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest
Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes
Protozoa in wastewater treatment processes: A minireview SUMMARY: This is a short review of the role protozoa play in wastewater treatment plants. Most of the protozoa are ciliates and they graze on bacteria, excrete nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon waste, and are used as indicators of water quality. Toxins such as heavy metals, salts, and other… Continue reading Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes
Protists Around European Waters
Patterns of Rare and Abundant Marine Microbial Eukaryotes SUMMARY: This study looked at the ratio of different sub-communities of protists around different bodies of waters around Europe. What they found was that the ratio was very similar no matter where the sample was taken from. Researchers sequenced ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of the organisms; rRNA lets… Continue reading Protists Around European Waters
Rotifers Eating Bacteria to Clean Water
Foam-forming bacteria in activated sludge effectively reduced by rotifers in laboratory- and real-scale wastewater treatment plant experiments SUMMARY: This article looks at using rotifers as a way to control a specific type of filamentous bacteria in wastewater treatment plants. Overgrowth of this bacteria leads to foam and inefficient break down of waste by other microorganisms.… Continue reading Rotifers Eating Bacteria to Clean Water