Editing Microbial ecology (section)

==Important Microbial Roles in The Environment==
Microorganisms are the backbone of all [[ecosystem]]s, even in areas where photosynthesis cannot take place. For example, chemosynthetic microorganisms are the primary producers in extreme environments, such as high temperature geothermal environments.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Inskeep |first1=W. P. |last2=Ackerman |first2=G. G. |last3=Taylor |first3=W. P. |last4=Kozubal |first4=M. |last5=Korf |first5=S. |last6=Macur |first6=R. E. |date=October 2005 |title=On the energetics of chemolithotrophy in nonequilibrium systems: case studies of geothermal springs in Yellowstone National Park |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1472-4669.2006.00059.x |journal=Geobiology |language=en |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=297–317 |doi=10.1111/j.1472-4669.2006.00059.x |issn=1472-4677|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In these extreme conditions, the [[chemosynthetic]] microbes provide energy and [[carbon]] to other organisms. Chemosynthetic microorganisms gain energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds such as hydrogen, nitrite, ammonia, sulfur and iron (II). These organisms can be found in both aerobic and anaerobic environment.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oren |first=Aharon |date=2009-09-15 |title=Chemolithotrophy |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0021153 |journal=Encyclopedia of Life Sciences |doi=10.1002/9780470015902.a0021153|isbn=978-0-470-01617-6|url-access=subscription }}</ref>  

The [[nitrogen cycle]], [[phosphorus cycle]], [[sulphur cycle]], and [[carbon cycle]] depend on microorganisms also. Each cycle involves microorganisms in certain processes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Wenjing |last2=Wang |first2=Jinlong |last3=Jiang |first3=Lamei |last4=Lv |first4=Guanghui |last5=Hu |first5=Dong |last6=Wu |first6=Deyan |last7=Yang |first7=Xiaodong |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Rhizosphere effect and water constraint jointly determined the roles of microorganism in soil phosphorus cycling in arid desert regions |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816222007950 |journal=CATENA |language=en |volume=222 |pages=106809 |doi=10.1016/j.catena.2022.106809 |bibcode=2023Caten.22206809L |s2cid=256786335 |issn=0341-8162|url-access=subscription }}</ref> For example, [[nitrogen gas]] makes up 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, but it is almost chemically inert; as a result, it is unavailable to most organisms. It has to be converted biologically to an available form by microorganism, through [[nitrogen fixation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Delwiche |first=C. C. |title=The Nitrogen Cycle |date=1970 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24925899 |journal=Scientific American |volume=223 |issue=3 |pages=136–147 |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0970-136 |jstor=24925899 |pmid=5459723 |bibcode=1970SciAm.223c.136D |s2cid=201233849 |issn=0036-8733|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Through these biogeochemical cycles, microorganisms are able to make nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in the soil.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Basu |first1=Sahana |title=Chapter 13 - Role of soil microbes in biogeochemical cycle for enhancing soil fertility |date=2021-01-01 |work=New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering |pages=149–157 |editor-last=Verma |editor-first=Jay Prakash |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9780444643254000134 |access-date=2024-11-04 |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/b978-0-444-64325-4.00013-4 |isbn=978-0-444-64325-4 |last2=Kumar |first2=Gautam |last3=Chhabra |first3=Sagar |last4=Prasad |first4=Ram |editor2-last=Macdonald |editor2-first=Catriona A. |editor3-last=Gupta |editor3-first=Vijai Kumar |editor4-last=Podile |editor4-first=Appa Rao|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Microorganisms play a role in solubilizing phosphate, improving soil health, and plant growth.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tian |first1=Jiang |last2=Ge |first2=Fei |last3=Zhang |first3=Dayi |last4=Deng |first4=Songqiang |last5=Liu |first5=Xingwang |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Roles of Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms from Managing Soil Phosphorus Deficiency to Mediating Biogeochemical P Cycle |journal=Biology |language=en |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=158 |doi=10.3390/biology10020158 |pmid=33671192 |pmc=7922199 |issn=2079-7737 |doi-access=free}}</ref>