ECOLOGY OF

MICROORGANISM
Eri Dian M
Microbiology FKUY
 Definition:
the study of the behavior and the activities of
microorganisms in their natural environments

Foundations
o populations
assemblages of similar organisms
o communities
mixtures of different populations
o ecosystems
self-regulating biological communities and their
physical environment
 Interaction beetween
microorganis
Netralism
Sinergism
Simbiosism
Competism
Antagonism
Parasitism
 Neutralism
there is no any physiological effect between
the populations.

Commensalism
Commensalism is a unidirectional
relationship betwen populations in
which one population benefits and the
other one isunaffected.
 Synergism
Synergism indicates that both
populations benefit from the
relationship but the association is
not obligatory. Both populations are
capable of surviving independently.

.
 Mutualism Symbiosis
Mutualism Symbiosis is an obligatory
inter- relationship between two
populations that benefits both of them.
Lichens is composed of a fungus and an
alga.
 Competition
Competition occurs when two
populations are striving for the
same resource of nutrients or the
habitat.
 Antagonism
Antagonism occurs when one
population produces a substrate
inhibitory to another population.
 Parasitism
the parasite population is benefited
and the host population is
harmed.
Synergism
Antagonism
 Symbiosis
Commensalism
Mutualis
Parasitism
 Commensalism
Definition
Relationship in which one symbiont (the commensal)
benefits while the other (the host) is neither harmed nor
helped.
Characteristics
Spatial proximity
The commensal feeds on substances captured or ingested by
the host.
The commensal obtains shelter from the host
Not dependent on the host metabolically
Examples
E. coli (the commensal) lives in human colon (the host)
E. coli use up O2 and benefits Bacteroides sp (obligate
anaerobes)
 Oppurtunism
Opportunistic pathogens
members of normal microbiota that produce
disease under certain circumstances

Opportunistic infection definition:

infections caused by organisms that usually
do not cause disease in a person with a
healthy immune system, but can affect
people with a poorly functioning or
suppressed immune system. They need an
opportunity to infect a person
Good
luck