Microbial Diversity and Environmental Processes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to microbial diversity and environmental processes based on the provided lecture notes.

Terrestrial systems

An ecological system comprised of land, including the soil and its biological components.

Phylotypes

Genetic types of organisms, particularly in reference to bacteria.

Soil heterogeneity

The variation in soil properties and characteristics across different spatial scales.

Dominant phylotypes

Phylogenetic groups that are more prevalent in a given ecological context.

Ecological cluster abundance

The relative measurement of different ecological clusters within a specified environment.

Microbial necromass

The remnants of dead microbial cells, which contribute to soil organic matter.

Bacterial diversity

The variety of bacterial species present in a given environment.

Nutrient limitation

A condition where the growth of an organism is restricted by the availability of nutrients.

Soil antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs)

Genes that confer resistance to antibiotics, often found in microbial populations within soils.

Global change impacts

The effects of large-scale environmental changes on ecological systems, particularly microbial communities.