List some metabolic strategies that have evolved to enable microbial survival in oligotrophic marine habitats. Which do you think is most successful in terms of numbers of microbes and metabolic flexibility? Explain your answer
List some
Introduction:
Biological diversity, also known as biodiversity, refers to the presence of a wide range of ecosystems, creatures, and their variations (biotypes) and genes suited to varied climates and settings, as well as their interactions and processes. Because the area's climatic circumstances and range of species' tolerance decide whether or not a given species can live in that location, biodiversity differs from one place to the next.
Organisms that reside in the low nutrient concentration environment are referred to as oligotrophic organisms. Deep ocean sediments, deep soil layers, ocean water, are examples of oligotrophic marine environments.
Answer:
Some of the metabolic strategies that have evolved to enable microbial survival in oligotrophic marine habitats are as follows:
- Presence of proteorhodopsin: In water with fewer nutrients, proteorhodopsin offers ATP pools by using a light-driven rhodopsin pump. Such microbes have a growth advantage over other organisms.
- Presence of aerobic anoxygenic phototroph: Such bacteria comprise bacteriochlorophyll a and b. They conduct aerobic anoxygenic phototrophy and ATP synthesis through bacteriochlorophyll a and b activation via the sunlight.
- Lithoheterotrophy: Lithoheterotrophic microbes use organic carbon essential for the anabolic process and inorganic chemicals to bring energy to the cell. Various carbon-monoxide oxidizing heterotrophs possess an enzyme called carbon monoxide dehydrogenase that converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide.
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