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Microbial Diversity Overview

  • Microbial Groups: Key phyla include Tenericutes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria).
  • Major Lineages: Microbial diversity can be categorized into various major lineages with isolated representatives and those lacking representation, e.g., Eukaryotes, Archaea, and various bacteria phyla.

Stramenopiles

  • General Characteristics: Known for diversity and inclusion of phototrophic groups; significant in marine ecosystems.
  • Major Groups: Diatoms (silica shell, significant marine productivity), Phaeophytes (brown algae), and Oomycetes (e.g., Phytophthora infestans).

Haptista

  • Main Lineages: Include Haptophytes (impact on marine processes) and Centrohelids (freshwater amoeboid protists).
  • Haptophytes: Dominant in phytoplankton; known for coccoliths (calcium carbonate scales).

Archaeplastids

  • Key Members: Green algae (land plants), Red algae, Glaucophytes.
  • Endosymbiosis History: Primary plastids result from cyanobacterial endosymbiosis.

Alveolates

  • Major Groups: Ciliates (ingest smaller prey), Dinoflagellates (heterotrophic feeding), Apicomplexans (e.g., Plasmodium, an obligate parasite).

Rhizarians

  • Common Members: Include Foraminiferans and Acanthareans, with a wide diversity of amoeboid forms.

Opisthokonts

  • Group Definition: Unicellular and multicellular, includes animals and fungi.
  • Choanoflagellates: Single flagellum surrounded by tentacles; pivotal in the evolution of multicellularity.
  • Fungi Characteristics: Diverse, range of ecological roles, can be microscopic or macroscopic with structures like mushrooms.

Fungal Diversity and Ecological Roles

  • Chytridiomycota: Unicellular with a life cycle involving zoospores; role in decomposition and disease.

  • Dikarya: Increasing complexity, includes Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, serving various ecological functions from parasites to saprotrophs.

  • Lichens: Symbiotic associations between fungi and algae/ cyanobacteria; exhibit complex microbiomes that enhance survival in harsh conditions.