Final answer:
Bacteria employ strategies like forming endospores and using their cell wall for protection to survive in unsuitable environments. Extremophiles have adapted to extreme conditions, while some bacteria enter a VBNC state under stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bacteria can avoid dying in unsuitable environments by employing various strategies. One of the key mechanisms is the formation of endospores, which are highly resistant structures that enable certain soil bacteria to withstand extreme conditions such as heat and drought. These endospores can remain dormant until favorable conditions return, allowing the bacteria to survive long periods of adversity.
Another adaptation is the possession of a cell wall, which provides protection from hypotonic and hypertonic conditions by preventing the cell from bursting or shriveling. Additionally, some bacteria are extremophiles, which means they have evolved to thrive in extreme environments, such as high temperatures or high salt concentrations, that would be lethal to many other organisms.
In environments where growth is not possible, some prokaryotes enter a viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) state, allowing them to remain alive but dormant under stressful conditions. Moreover, bacteria often form biofilms, which are complex communities that provide protection and increase chances of survival.