ecological
(adjective)
Relating to ecology, the interrelationships of organisms and their environment.
Examples of ecological in the following topics:
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Microbes and Ecosystem Niches
- Microorganisms participate in a host of fundamental ecological processes including production, decomposition, and fixation.
- In addition, microbial processes can be co-opted for biodegradation or bioremediation of domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes, making the study of microbial ecology particularly important for biotechnological and environmental applications.
- The ecological niche of a microorganism describes how it responds to the distribution of resources and competing species, as well as the ways in which it alters those same factors in turn.
- The precise ecological niche of a microbe is primarily determined by the specific metabolic properties of that organism.
- Thermophiles, which thrive at relatively high temperatures, occupy a unique ecological niche.
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Gammaproteobacteria
- Gammaproteobacteria is a class of several medically, ecologically and scientifically important groups of bacteria.
- Gammaproteobacteria is a class of several medically, ecologically and scientifically important groups of bacteria, such as the Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli), Vibrionaceae and Pseudomonadaceae .
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Organization of Ecosystems
- Microorganisms serve essential roles in the complex nutrient exchange system that defines an ecological community.
- Despite the fact that clear boundaries between ecosystems may be difficult to identify, the myriad interactions that take place within an ecological community can often be observed and defined.
- Microorganisms play a vital role in every ecological community by serving both as producers and as decomposers.
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Viral Roles in Ecosystems
- This is typified by the role of viruses in marine ecology.
- Phage-ecological interactions therefore are quantitatively vast, with huge numbers of interactions.
- Phage-ecological interactions are also qualitatively diverse: there are huge numbers of environment types, bacterial-host types, and also individual phage types.
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The Species Concept in Microbiology
- The number of species of bacteria and archaea is surprisingly small, despite their early evolution, genetic, and ecological diversity.
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Ecological Associations Among Microorganisms
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Ecology, Epidemiology, and Evolution of Pathogens
- Ecological competence is the ability of an organism, often a pathogen, to survive and compete in new habitats.
- Optimal virulence is a concept relating to the ecology of hosts and parasites.
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Nongenetic Categories for Medicine and Ecology
- In medicine, microorganisms are identified by morphology, physiology, and other attributes; in ecology by habitat, energy, and carbon source.
- In ecology, microorganisms are classified by the type of habitat they require, or trophic level, energy source and carbon source.
- Outline the traits used to classify: bacteria, viruses and microrganisms in ecology
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Acidobacteria
- Since they have only recently been discovered and the large majority have not been cultured, the ecology and metabolism of these bacteria is not well understood.
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Sponge Communities
- Sponge reefs serve an important ecological function as habitat, breeding and nursery areas for fish and invertebrates.
- Sponge reefs serve an important ecological function as habitat, breeding, and nursery areas for fish and invertebrates .