Chapter 19, Problem 7RQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

The contribution of different Archaea in the cycling of nitrogen and sulfur in the ecosystem.

Introduction:

Archaea occupy a significant position in the microbial biomass on Earth. They have evolved a variety of metabolic processes. Archaea play an important role in the Earth's geological cycles and release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Archaea are most commonly divided into Crenarchaeota that include sulfur hyperthermophiles, Mesophiles, and psychrophiles, Thaumarchaeota that includes ammonia oxidizers, and Euryarchaeotes that include methanogens, halophiles, and acidophiles.