Functions of Marine Flora

Functions of Marine Flora

	Functions of Marine Flora 1. They cause spoilage of fish and other marine food products. Clostridium botulinum is quite commonly present in fishes, clams and oysters. 2. Harmful bacteria bring about the deterioration of various man-made structures such a fish nets, ropes, soil cloth, etc. 3. The most important activity of bacteria in the sea is the mineralization, modification and synthesis of organic matter (carbohydrates, proteins, hydrocarbons, chitin)
4. Both chemosynthetic and photosynthetic autotrophs occur in the sea, thus increasing the primary productivity of the sea. 5. More than 100 species of microbes have been shown to fix nitrogen found in sea water /bottom deposits. 6. Certain chemical transformations caused by bacteria tend to affect the pH of the environment. pH may be increased by (a) formation of ammonia, (b) reduction of nitrates, nitrites and sulphates, (c) oxidation or decarboxylation of organic acids, or (d) reduction of carbon dioxide.
pH can be decreased by (a) bacterial oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate, (b) oxidation of sulphur and hydrogen sulphide to sulphate, (c) formation of organic acids/carbon dioxide from carbohydrates, or (d) liberation of phosphates from phospholipids. Generally these activities go hand in hand thus maintaining neutrality. Sometimes either one may predominate as in the sediments
Marine bacteria are believed to promote the transformation of petroleum from marine sediments. In highly reducing environments (anaerobic), bacteria tend to convert organic matter partly into carbon compounds relatively richer in hydrogen and poorer in oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus. This results in the formation of carbon compounds that are more like petroleum. Some marine bacteria can oxidise oil by degrading the oil; they can thus reduce danger of oil pollution in the marine environment.

	Back to Home
Marine Ecosystem Downwelling General Characteristics of Sea Biota Marine Microbes Bacterial Flora of the Sea Functions of Marine Flora Estuarine Ecosystem Biota of Estuaries Mangrove Ecosystem Characteristic Features of Mangroves Zonation Biota of Mangrove Other Interrelated Ecosystems

Home | Site map | Submit Article | Directory | Search