Most soils are simply a graveyard for dead bacteria cells.

Bacteria’s small size enables them to grow and adapt more rapidly to changing environmental conditions than larger, more complex microorganisms like fungi. They grow and live in thin water films around soil particles and near roots in an area called the rhizosphere. Figure 1 shows ciliate protozoa consuming bacteria.īacteria are similar in size to clay soil particles (<.2 µm) and silt soil particles (2-50 µm).

A ton of microscopic bacteria may be active in each acre.” While bacteria may be small, they make up both the largest number and biomass (weight) of any soil microorganism. That is as much mass as two cows per acre. A teaspoon of productive soil generally contains between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria. 18) states that “Bacteria are tiny one-celled organisms generally 4/100,000 of an inch wide (1 µm). Used with permission and all rights reserved. Bacteria Characteristicsįigure 1: Close up view of a ciliate (protozoa) with various bacteria in the background. Bacteria are a major class of microorganisms that keep soils healthy and productive. Microbes in the soil are directly tied to nutrient recycling especially carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. read more, and tularemia Tularemia Tularemia is infection that is caused by the gram-negative bacteria Francisella tularensis, which is acquired when people have direct contact with infected wild animals, usually rabbits. The bacteria are spread mainly by the rat flea. read more, plague Plague and Other Yersinia Infections Plague is a severe infection caused by the gram-negative bacteria Yersinia pestis and often involving the lymph nodes and/or lungs. Botulism toxins, usually consumed in food, can weaken or paralyze. read more, botulism Botulism Botulism is a rare, life-threatening poisoning caused by toxins produced by the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Anthrax may affect the skin, the lungs, or, rarely, the digestive. These bacteria include those that cause anthrax Anthrax Anthrax is a potentially fatal infection with Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria (see figure ). Such use is contrary to international law and has rarely taken place during formal warfare in modern history, despite the. Many resident flora are actually helpful to people-for example, by helping them digest food or by preventing the growth of other, more dangerous bacteria.Ĭertain bacteria have the potential to be used as biological weapons Biological Weapons Biological warfare is the use of microbiological agents as weapons. There are at least as many bacteria in our resident flora as there are cells in the body. Such bacteria are called resident flora Resident Flora Healthy people live in harmony with most of the microorganisms that establish themselves on or in (colonize) nonsterile parts of the body, such as the skin, nose, mouth, throat, large intestine. Many bacteria live on and in the bodies of people and animals-on the skin and in the airways, mouth, and digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts-without causing any harm. Some bacteria have been reported even to live in radioactive waste.

They live in soil, seawater, and deep within the earth’s crust. There are thousands of different kinds of bacteria, and they live in every conceivable environment all over the world. They are among the earliest known life forms on earth. Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms.

List 3 basic bacteria shapes