The microbes, those tiny beings impossible to see that we know that they surround our environment but that we barely know anything about them. Animals? Floors? Minerals? Most people do not know what they are exactly despite having great importance in our lives.
From Ecology Verde we want you to know the branch of microbiology that studies the microbes in the environment and the importance it has for human life. So, if you want to know more about this, keep reading this article about mEnvironmental Icrobiology, its definition and importance.
Introduction to Environmental Microbiology
First, to understand what environmental microbiology means we must first understand what it means and what encompasses the Microbiology science.
Microbiology constitutes the Study of microorganisms or microbesor what is the same, the living beings invisible to the human eye, through the use of the microscope. Etymologically speaking, the word “microbiology” derives from three words of Greek origin: “mikros” (small), “bios” (life) and “logos” (science). Thus, the three words together constitute the scientific study of the Microscopic life.
These tiny beings analyzed by microscopic can be prokaryotes or eukaryotes, there is a great diversity of types: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and microscopic algae.
In this other ecology article, we explain in more detail what microorganisms, their types and characteristics are.
DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
There are a wide variety of sub -banners within the field of microbiology, such as Environmental Microbiology. The definition of environmental microbiology is understood as the study and analysis of the diversity and function of microorganisms in their natural and even artificial environments.
In addition, the main objective of science focuses on Analysis of microbial ecologyor what is the same, the relationships between the environment, water, air and soil, and the microorganisms that inhabit it, whether as polluting agents or for use as an environmental decontaminant.
In turn, within environmental microbiology, we also find microbial ecology, microbial diversity, geomicrobiology and bioremediation, rizorremediation and molecular biology of pseudomonas.
Microbial ecology
Microbial ecology is the branch of ecology that observes and analyzes microbes in their natural environment. These microorganisms maintain a continuous activity and relationship with the essential environment for life on planet Earth.
Microbial diversity
Microbial diversity is understood as the knowledge of the enormous variety of microorganisms found in natural ecosystems. Despite being the most abundant organisms on the planet, the study of the diversity of microbes that exist in the world is a relatively new knowledge for humanity and with a lot of field to study and discover. In fact, only 1% of the microbes that exist in the biosphere have been recognized by the Microbiologists to this day.
Geomicrobiology
Geomicrobiology is the science that studies the relationships between geochemical and geological processes and microorganisms. Thus, science encompasses the study of any microbial interaction that occurs in the water masses and the sediments of the earth’s earth’s cortex.
Biorremediation, Rizorremediation and Molecular Biology of Pseudomonas
These terms refer to the processes that serve to return to their natural condition a contaminated environment through the use of microorganisms, plants, fungi or enzymes derived from them. The microorganisms attack the polluting substances that may be on the ground or water in order to eliminate or neutralize them to recover the stability of the environment.
Importance of environmental microbiology
Since its discovery and birth as a science more than 300 years ago, the study of microbiology has grown greatly in recent times. However, there is a lot of field to know and new lines of research appear continuously.
Microbiology, and more specifically, the Environmental microbiology is very important in our lives. The microorganisms are present in the environment in which we live, both in their beneficial and harmful sense. Thus, some of the key points about the importance of environmental microbiology are:
- The microorganisms collaborate in the recycling, decomposition and mineralization of all organic matter in the process of rot. In addition, the microbes benefit life on earth In many other ways. For example, mycorrhizae are a type of microorganisms that favor the defense and growth of plants.
- The pathogenic microorganisms present in the water can convert this essential good for the survival of the human being in harmful, in the same way as if those organisms are in the air.
- We can then say that the environmental microorganismshave a pollutant or environmental decontamination, are present in all environments; and that environmental microbiology encompasses great diversity of fields that are of the utmost importance for the well -being of human life. It deals with studies and problems related to human, animal and plant medicine, agriculture, animal production, soil fertility, industry, etc.
- One of the most transcendental branches of environmental microbiology for us focuses on the study of pathogenic microorganisms for human beings. Thus, this science is interrelated with some categories of medicine such as immunology, pathology and epidemiology, with all the importance that these sciences have for people’s lives and the progress of society. It also relates to other sub -mas within microbiology, such as bacteriology or the study of bacteria, a science of vital importance for medical and scientific advances.
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