Classification of Microorganisms (Bacteria, Algae, Fungi, Protozoa, Viruses)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the notes on the classification and characteristics of microorganisms.

Bacteria

Simple, single-celled microorganisms found in air, water, soil, and living organisms; shapes include bacillus (rod-shaped), cocci (spherical), and spirilla (spiral-shaped); most are heterotrophic, with some autotrophic.

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacterium.

Cocci

Spherical bacterium.

Spirilla

Spiral-shaped bacterium.

Autotrophic

Organisms that synthesize their own food from light or inorganic chemical energy.

Heterotrophic

Organisms that obtain nutrients from other organisms or decaying matter; can be saprotrophic or parasitic.

Saprotrophic

Nutrition by feeding on dead and decaying organic matter.

Parasitic

Nutrition by living on or in a host organism.

Algae

Autotrophic organisms with undifferentiated body parts; may be unicellular or multicellular; commonly found in aquatic habitats and moist soil; sometimes grow on surfaces like tree bark; often called grasses of water.

Grasses of water

Common name for algae due to their grass-like appearance in water.

Chlamydomonas

Unicellular alga.

Spirogyra

Multicellular filamentous alga.

Laminaria

Multicellular brown alga (kelp).

Unicellular

Organisms composed of a single cell.

Multicellular

Organisms composed of many cells.

Aquatic habitats

Environments in water such as ponds and lakes where algae live.

Bark of trees

Some algae grow on the bark of trees.

Five major groups of microorganisms

The five principal categories: bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.

Fungi

One of the five major groups of microorganisms (e.g., yeasts and molds).

Protozoa

One of the five major groups of microorganisms; single-celled eukaryotes.

Viruses

One of the five major groups of microorganisms; acellular infectious agents that require a living host to reproduce.