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Microecology means microbial ecology or ecology of a microhabitat. Human gut microecology is the study of microbial ecology of the human gut.〔(Editorial: Human gut microecology )〕 Microecology is a large field which includes many topics such as evolution and creation, biodiversity, exobiology, ecology, bioremediation, recycling, and food microbiology. There is an estimated 10,000,000 different type of microbes that live on this planet of which fewer than 4500 have been described according to the General Biodiversity Assessment (1) http://www.isme-microbes.org/whatis/biodiversity. Without a microscope, the human eye can only see objects larger than one-tenth of a millimeter long, but given the right conditions, you might be able to see a human egg. Looking down at these tiny objects, you are looking at the edge of an entire world of creatures invisible to the naked eye. In this land around us, tiny microbes live out their tiny lives. Like us, they eat, move and reproduce. They interact with their world, obtaining food and energy from the environment, but also changing it in some very large ways. With millions of different kinds of microbes existing today, these organisms cover every part of the Earth. They are versatile in that they live in just about every kind of habitat. Over the billions of years that they have existed on the planet, microbes have adapted to fit their environments, developing ways of gathering food and energy that are still used by most organisms today. (2) http://microbes.org/microscopic-worlds Microbes are incredibly diverse, they can survive in environments from very cold to the extremely hot. They are also tolerant of many other conditions, such as limited water availability, high salt content, and low oxygen levels. Not every microbe can survive in all habitats. Each type of microbe has evolved to live within a narrow range of conditions. Microbes are part of every ecosystem. They form the foundation of many food webs. Microbes are eaten by animals, which then serve as food sources for other animals and plants. Microbes also play an important part in breaking down dead plant and animal material through decomposition. Microbes are involved in the cycling of nutrients and other compounds throughout the environment. For example, microbes in the soil decompose the plant and animal matter in the rainforest creating a rich and fertile growing environment. ==Terrestrial microbial habitats== Only one percent of microbes that live in soil have been identified. These organisms take part in the formation of soil, and are essential components of their ecosystems. They are responsible for the transfer of nutrients to plants and animals through various cycles. Some microbes convert nitrogen from a gas to a form that plants can use, like natural fertilizer. Without the microbes, many plants would not be able to grow. Bacteria and fungi that live in soil feed mostly on organic matter. They promote the decomposition of dead material, which releases useful nutrients into the soil. Microbes the primary members of the soil food web. These microbes are very sensitive to their local environment. Factors such as the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen, the pH, moisture and temperature all affect the growth of microbes in the soil. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Microecology」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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