Microbial Ecosystems: Soil, Water, and Extreme Environments | Chapter 20 Summary from Brock Biology of Microorganisms
Microbial Ecosystems: Soil, Water, and Extreme Environments | Chapter 20 Summary from Brock Biology of Microorganisms Microbes are the engines of Earth's ecosystems, thriving in environments as diverse as sunlit soils and boiling hydrothermal vents. Chapter 20 of Brock Biology of Microorganisms explores how microbes assemble into communities, adapt to steep environmental gradients, and participate in essential nutrient cycles. This chapter highlights the ecological principles, community structures, and investigative techniques that reveal the unseen microbial dynamics in terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Watch the full podcast summary below and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for detailed, high-yield chapter reviews. Microbial Communities and Niches Microorganisms do not live in isolation; they form complex systems: Populations of similar microbes occupy specific niches . Communities include multiple populations interacting in space and time. Guilds ar...