Microbiology

Microbiology Study Guide

The oxygen cycle:

Aquatic Environment Freshwater and Marine Environment The freshwater and marine environment covers about 75 percent of the Earth’s surface and caters to a number of services in the ecosystem, such as participation in biogeochemical cycles and nutrient exchange, natural protection and habitat, and degradation and scattering of many environmental pollutants. The marine ecosystem comprises the majority of the ecosystem, while freshwater sources include sources with low saline compounds dissolved in it, such as wetlands, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. These provide habitat to distinct animal and plant life that are typically unable to adjust to higher concentrations of saltwater. Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Household, industrial, and commercial activities of human beings generate a large quantum of waste that adds to water resources, and the proper treatment of sewage and wastewater must occur before they can be discharged into water bodies. If wastewater is not recycled or treated, then hazardous elements like nitrogen, phosphorous, metallic compounds, and other organic pollutants present in wastewater pollute the water. At times, wastewater also contains non-biodegradable waste and pathogenic microorganisms, which are responsible for causing infections and diseases. Hence, it is imperative to treat waste and sewage water before it becomes part of bodies of water. The above mentioned chemical and biological wastes are generally extracted and deposited into the soil and environment after being properly broken down. It is, however, possible to manage the wastewater waste by facilitating the microbial population to digest the organic matter in the water. After that, it is necessary to filter and purify the water so that it becomes safe enough to drink.

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