- Bacteria and other small micro-organisms are often seen as an enemy of health and the environment, but frequently the opposite is true. Many types of bacteria serve essential roles i the health of humans and animals and the entire environment.
One important and helpful bacteria is rhizobium, which is a key part of how plants all over the world receive nutrients. Plants rely on ammonia as a key nutrient. Ammonia is not found in large quantities in the atmosphere; however, nitrogen is. Rhizobium is the only kind of organism that is able to combine this abundant nitrogen with oxygen in order to create ammonia. The process of converting nitrogen makes all plant life dependent on bacteria in order to grow. - Throughout the environment, all types of life occurs in cycles. When a plant or animal organism dies it is replaced by another, and the cycle continues. Decomposition is the process in which dead organisms are broken down to their basic elements. Streptomycetes are bacteria essential to decomposition found naturally in soil and are responsible for breaking down decaying plant and animal matter. Without this bacteria, dead matter would quickly build up throughout the environment. Additionally, the bacterial breakdown of streptomycetes releases nutrients into the soil, which allows new life to grow.
- In addition to being important in soil, bacteria serves an important role for nearly all animals. Within the stomach and intestines of mammals, bacteria such as E. coli help with the proper digestion of food. During this digestion, key vitamins, including vitamins B and K, are released and used throughout the body. Helpful bacteria also aid animals and humans in fighting off infection. When one type of bacteria inhabit an area, they fight other bacteria for control within the body. When bacteria that iare harmful to the body invade, the already-present helpful bacteria move to prevent them from spreading.
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