The Microbial World
Introduction to the Microbial World
Part 1
Microbial Habitats
Microbes live in every type of habitat that
supports life
• In all types of terrestrial environments
• In all types of aquatic environments
• Associations with insects plants and animals
• Associations with other microbes
• In all types of extreme environments
Terrestrial habitats
Soil and compost
Terrestrial habitats
Rocks and trees
Terrestrial habitats
Caves and mudpots
Aquatic habitats
Open seas and tide pools
Aquatic habitats
Algae and plankton in salt marshes
Aquatic habitats
Ponds and streams
Aquatic habitats
Marshes and wetlands
Aquatic habitats
Hot springs and Antarctic ice sheets
Extreme environments
Hot: Boiling pools and
Hydrothermal vents
Extreme environments
Cold: Glaciers and snow fields
Extreme environments
Salt: Great Salt Lake
Extreme environments
Alkaline: Mono Lake
Extreme environments
Acid: Moose Pool YNP
Associations with Animals
Humans: some of the normal bacterial flora
Associations with Animals
Fish: Flashlight fish and luminescent bacteria
Associations with Insects
Ants that live in associations with fungi; and aphids that live in
associations with bacteria
Associations with Plants
Rhizobium bacteria that live in association with plants
Associations with other Microbes
Microbial mats: associations between bacteria and algae
Associations with other Microbes
Lichens: associations between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria