35 research outputs found
Contribution of Microbe-Mediated Processes in Nitrogen Cycle to Attain Environmental Equilibrium
Nitrogen (N), the most important element, is required by all living organisms for
the synthesis of complex organic molecules like amino acids, proteins, lipids etc.
Nitrogen cycle is considered to be the most complex yet arguably important cycle
next to carbon cycle. Nitrogen cycle includes oxic and anoxic reactions like
organic N mineralization, ammonia assimilation, nitrification denitrification,
anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), dissimilatory nitrate reduction to
ammonium (DNRA), comammox, codenitrification etc. Nitrogen cycling is one
of the most crucial processes required for the recycling of essential chemical
requirements on the planet. Soil microorganisms not only improve N-cycle
balance but also pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices, leading to
improved soil properties and crop productivity as most plants are opportunistic in
the uptake of soluble or available forms of N from soil. Microbial N
transformations are influenced by plants to improve their nutrition and vice
versa. Diverse microorganisms, versatile metabolic activities, and varied biotic and abiotic conditions may result in the shift in the equilibrium state of different
N-cycling processes. This chapter is an overview of the mechanisms and genes
involved in the diverse microorganisms associated in the operation of nitrogen
cycle and the roles of such microorganisms in different agroecosystems
Advancing microbial sciences by individual-based modelling
Remarkable technological advances have revealed ever more properties and behaviours of individual microorganisms, but the novel data generated by these techniques have not yet been fully exploited. In this Opinion article, we explain how individual-based models (IBMs) can be constructed based on the findings of such techniques and how they help to explore competitive and cooperative microbial interactions. Furthermore, we describe how IBMs have provided insights into self-organized spatial patterns from biofilms to the oceans of the world, phage-CRISPR dynamics and other emergent phenomena. Finally, we discuss how combining individual-based observations with IBMs can advance our understanding at both the individual and population levels, leading to the new approach of microbial individual-based ecology (ÎŒIBE)