1. The niche of an organism is the functional role that it plays within an ecosystem. The niche (better refined as the ‘ecological niche’) is determined by the biotic factors, which comprise of living features such as animals, plants and fungi, and abiotic factors. The niche of an organism within an ecosystem depends on how the organism responds and reacts to the distribution and abundance of these factors, and in turn how it alters the factors. For example, when resources are abundant, a population grows, although by growing, the population provides more resources for predators. Microbes are vital to every ecosystem on Earth and are particularly important in zones where light cannot approach (that is, where photosynthesis cannot be the basic means to collect energy).
2. Please provide evidence supporting or refuting the following statement: Humans consume microbes every day with little health risk. I agree with the statement that humans consume microbes every day that do not negatively affect their health. For example, microbes can serve as food. Food is chemically changed with the addition of microbes to improve flavor and texture. Foods like beer, yogurt, and bread all involve microbes and fermentation to produce their end result. Industrial microbiology is a field that allows materials and processes to improve with the addition of microbes. For example, microbes like Penicillium chrysogenum and cephalosporium allow antibacterial drugs to be produced. It is essential to know that many microbes aid in digestion and help the body fight off infections. It is a common misconception that all microbes are dangerous or unhealthy. Humans consume and positively interact with microbes daily.
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