Final answer:
The term 'microbiota' refers to the community of microorganisms residing in a specific habitat, like the human body or a geographic region. It includes a diverse array of bacteria, archaea, and fungi, with the gut microbiota being a well-studied example. Alterations to the microbiota can significantly impact human health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "microbiota" refers to a collection of microorganisms that reside in a specific habitat, such as a certain region of the human body or a certain geographic region. This community includes diverse species of bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Alterations to the microbiota can occur due to various factors like diet, age, lifestyle, ethnicity, and health. An example of a well-studied microbiota is the gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of microbial cells that have numerous beneficial roles in human health and are considered a virtual organ of the body.
The microbiota within a given body habitat is very complex. For example, the gut microbiota includes a wide range of microbial species, with most bacteria belonging to genres like Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Fusobacterium. It's important to note that changes in our microbiota, such as an increase in antibiotic resistance, can have significant health implications.