Chapter 15
Microscopic World and the Phenomenon
of Symbiosis in the Natural Environment
Vladimír Klaban
Abstract This chapter presents a perspective of the interactions that exist between
microorganisms. Those interactions cover a broad spectrum, ranging in nature from
collaborations to competitions, and they are a key aspect of the biosphere’s foundation. Included in this chapter are brief mentions and some history of the following
concepts: mutual relationships of microorganisms including synergism, syntrophy,
and commensalism; reciprocal and unilateral antibiosis; amensalism alias allelopathy; bacteriocins and zymocins; plus microbial competitions including parasitism
and predation.
15.1 Mutual Relationships of Microorganisms
Let us imagine that on a beautiful day under sunny skies we are sitting with friends in
the backyard. We do not realize that all around us there exists an invisible life of
microorganisms in various environments. Microorganisms colonize the leaves and
stalks of plants, the upper layers of soil that we see and as well the roots of plants.
They are present on the surface of animals, on human’s skin and as well in their
gastrointestinal tract. Likewise, microorganisms are also present in high altitude
environments, in regions with perpetual snow, they live in the lakes, seas, and
oceans, even on the very bottom of those water bodies. They are also present in
the atmosphere. The so-called hyperthermophilic microorganisms can be found in
hot springs. Microorganisms thus immensely broaden the Earth’s region called
biosphere. Microorganisms in many of these environments are very active. They
decompose all kinds of compounds and substrates not just for their own nutrition,
but also for the beneficial consumption of other organisms. In natural environments,
microorganisms form all kinds of mutual interrelationships. And right here we arrive
at a very used and useful term of symbiosis.
From the etymological point of view, the word symbiosis means “life together,”
in our case the mutual coexistence of microorganisms, derived from the Greek words
V. Klaban (*)
Sobřice, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. J. Hurst (ed.), Microbes: The Foundation Stone of the Biosphere, Advances in
Environmental Microbiology 8, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63512-1_15
243
Microscopic World and the Phenomenon
of Symbiosis in the Natural Environment
Vladimír Klaban
Abstract This chapter presents a perspective of the interactions that exist between
microorganisms. Those interactions cover a broad spectrum, ranging in nature from
collaborations to competitions, and they are a key aspect of the biosphere’s foundation. Included in this chapter are brief mentions and some history of the following
concepts: mutual relationships of microorganisms including synergism, syntrophy,
and commensalism; reciprocal and unilateral antibiosis; amensalism alias allelopathy; bacteriocins and zymocins; plus microbial competitions including parasitism
and predation.
15.1 Mutual Relationships of Microorganisms
Let us imagine that on a beautiful day under sunny skies we are sitting with friends in
the backyard. We do not realize that all around us there exists an invisible life of
microorganisms in various environments. Microorganisms colonize the leaves and
stalks of plants, the upper layers of soil that we see and as well the roots of plants.
They are present on the surface of animals, on human’s skin and as well in their
gastrointestinal tract. Likewise, microorganisms are also present in high altitude
environments, in regions with perpetual snow, they live in the lakes, seas, and
oceans, even on the very bottom of those water bodies. They are also present in
the atmosphere. The so-called hyperthermophilic microorganisms can be found in
hot springs. Microorganisms thus immensely broaden the Earth’s region called
biosphere. Microorganisms in many of these environments are very active. They
decompose all kinds of compounds and substrates not just for their own nutrition,
but also for the beneficial consumption of other organisms. In natural environments,
microorganisms form all kinds of mutual interrelationships. And right here we arrive
at a very used and useful term of symbiosis.
From the etymological point of view, the word symbiosis means “life together,”
in our case the mutual coexistence of microorganisms, derived from the Greek words
V. Klaban (*)
Sobřice, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. J. Hurst (ed.), Microbes: The Foundation Stone of the Biosphere, Advances in
Environmental Microbiology 8, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63512-1_15
243