Question

There is a great diversity of metabolism in microbes, with new types being discovered regularly. For example, the use of nanowires by the ANME and SRB was only discovered relatively recently (the study described in the introduction was published in 2015). Understanding microbial metabolism is essential to understanding how these organisms function within an ecosystem, including understanding symbiotic associations such as that between ANME and SRB. The terminology below describes metabolic types. Match each metabolic type with the best description.

a. __________use inorganic compounds for energy and organic compounds as a carbon source.
b. __________perform CO2 fixation and utilize C02 as their sole carbon source.
c. __________are organisms that accomplish the catabolism and degradation of a substance through a cooperative effort with one or more other microorganisms.
d. __________ Use light as an energy source and CO2 as a carbon source.
e. __________Use organic carbon as their carbon source.
f. __________ Use inorganic electron donors and CO2 as a carbon source.
g. __________ Use inorganic organic chemicals as energy

1. Syntrophs
2. Autotrophs
3. Chemolithotrophs
4. Mixotrophs
5. Heterotrophs
6. Phototrophs
7. Chemotrophs

Answer 1

a. mixotrophs

b. autotrophs

c. syntrophs

d. phototrophs

e. heterotrophs

f. chemolithotrophs

g. chemotrophs

Step-by-step explanation:

Autotrophs are organisms that can synthesize their own food using carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (e.g., algae, cyanobacteria, plants, etc). Syntrophs are organisms that utilize products from other organisms (e.g., mites that consume human dead-skin). Phototrophs are organisms that synthesize their own food by using the energy provided by sunlight (e.g., green plants). Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot synthesize their own food, obtaining energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms (e.g., animals). Mixotrophs are flexible organisms that obtain their food by using a mix of different sources of energy and carbon. Protists that combine autotrophy and heterotrophy are considered mixotrophs. Chemotrophs are organisms that obtain energy by the oxidation of electron donors from the environment, by using both organic sources (chemoorganotrophs) and inorganic sources (chemolithotrophs). Examples of chemolithotrophs include sulfur/iron-oxidizing bacteria, while chemoorganotrophs include the most known bacteria and archaea.