spores. Amazingly, there is a group of bacteria, that is, Myxococcus and related
gram-negative bacteria that undertake a similar life cycle (Kroos 2017).
Another kind of slime mold, i.e., Physarum polycephalum, attracts interest due to
its seeming use of intelligence to solve maze puzzles. This type of mold forms tubelike structures termed pseudopodia (Alim 2018). If the organism is placed at one
feeding site, it starts to grow pseudopodia cells in various directions from the feeding
site, searching for more food supplies. Once the extended cell meets another feeding
site, the plasmodium body starts to contract, leaving the tube that connects the two
feeding sites in the shortest path in the maze. This surprising phenomenon implies
that the mold has a program that makes decisions based on the integration of
diverged inter- and intra-cellular signals.
Thus, the major subject in animal ethology has a significant connection to
microbiology. The mechanism underlying autonomous social behavior may not be
clarified only by the conventional analytical methods developed in microbiology and
related research areas. Recently, researchers in the field of computational technology
have successfully developed a robot that mimics natural social behavior. Integration
of different research fields may progress a deeper understanding of the principles
underlying the multilayered structures of microbial interactions.
25.3 Insights into the Framework of Resilient Ecosystems
In “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling” (Miller 2015), the author
Dr. Geri Miller proposes 10 ways to build psychological resilience. Of these, the
first five overlap precisely with the mechanisms observed in microbes.
1. Make connections.
2. Avoid seeing crises as insurmountable problems.
3. Accept that change is a part of living.
4. Move toward your goals.
5. Take decisive actions.
Thus, the lessons we learn from the microbial community provide deep insights
into the principle fundamental to the sustainable life of all life forms.
Despite the probability that the constitution of a healthy ecosystem is based on
invisible interactions between microorganisms, our current knowledge does not fully
explain how those interactions constitute effective organizations of life forms. If
explained by an analogy to building construction, the mechanical strength of each
building block is important, but possessing high rigidity is not sufficient for the
successful construction of a building. It is also important that the building blocks be
assembled in a harmonious manner. Furthermore, buildings resistant to large earthquakes should retain a flexible structure that absorbs strong physical power and
gradually releases it in the course of restoration. In addition, for persistence, construction of such a special structure should be renewed constantly and reproducibly.
25 Invisible Interactions between Microorganisms
537
gram-negative bacteria that undertake a similar life cycle (Kroos 2017).
Another kind of slime mold, i.e., Physarum polycephalum, attracts interest due to
its seeming use of intelligence to solve maze puzzles. This type of mold forms tubelike structures termed pseudopodia (Alim 2018). If the organism is placed at one
feeding site, it starts to grow pseudopodia cells in various directions from the feeding
site, searching for more food supplies. Once the extended cell meets another feeding
site, the plasmodium body starts to contract, leaving the tube that connects the two
feeding sites in the shortest path in the maze. This surprising phenomenon implies
that the mold has a program that makes decisions based on the integration of
diverged inter- and intra-cellular signals.
Thus, the major subject in animal ethology has a significant connection to
microbiology. The mechanism underlying autonomous social behavior may not be
clarified only by the conventional analytical methods developed in microbiology and
related research areas. Recently, researchers in the field of computational technology
have successfully developed a robot that mimics natural social behavior. Integration
of different research fields may progress a deeper understanding of the principles
underlying the multilayered structures of microbial interactions.
25.3 Insights into the Framework of Resilient Ecosystems
In “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling” (Miller 2015), the author
Dr. Geri Miller proposes 10 ways to build psychological resilience. Of these, the
first five overlap precisely with the mechanisms observed in microbes.
1. Make connections.
2. Avoid seeing crises as insurmountable problems.
3. Accept that change is a part of living.
4. Move toward your goals.
5. Take decisive actions.
Thus, the lessons we learn from the microbial community provide deep insights
into the principle fundamental to the sustainable life of all life forms.
Despite the probability that the constitution of a healthy ecosystem is based on
invisible interactions between microorganisms, our current knowledge does not fully
explain how those interactions constitute effective organizations of life forms. If
explained by an analogy to building construction, the mechanical strength of each
building block is important, but possessing high rigidity is not sufficient for the
successful construction of a building. It is also important that the building blocks be
assembled in a harmonious manner. Furthermore, buildings resistant to large earthquakes should retain a flexible structure that absorbs strong physical power and
gradually releases it in the course of restoration. In addition, for persistence, construction of such a special structure should be renewed constantly and reproducibly.
25 Invisible Interactions between Microorganisms
537