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I have a question about bacteria!?

Considering that bacteria can reproduce quickly, and the world contains a ton of food for them, why don't bacteria grow in massive amounts and cover the Earth's surface?

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  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Several factors are involved. The presence of nutrients is very important but the presence of favorable environmental conditions is equally important. If conditions are not favorable for the rapid growth of the microorganisms, the presence of nutrients will not be made manifest in the rapid growth of the organisms.

    The presence of predators and parasites is equally important. The boom of a prey equally attracts the predator which also intends to flourish. It is widely known that the Gram positive bacteria in soil are actively preyed upon by other organisms like the protists. It is only convenient to think that the increased presence of Gram positive bacteria will fairly increase the population of protists predators.

    Competition among bacteria species is also a major factor. Some bacteria are predators to other bacteria. They help to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

    Not all bacteria cells swarm, i.e., not all can move from one point to another. The non motile ones form colonies which become densely packed and cannot function properly anymore. Nutrients become depleted at the point of growth, wastes accumulate and competition become fierce. This leads to the death of several cells, even if there is plenty of nutrients beyond their initial growth point.

    It is worthy of note that the level of nutrients available to bacteria in nature hardly reaches the concentration seen in the laboratory cultivation of bacteria, hence, the level of growth expected will not be exactly what may be seen naturally.

    These are a few of the several factors which militate against the global overgrowth of bacteria.

    Source(s): Student of Microbiology
  • 8 years ago

    Even if bacteria are reproducing so fast, their mortality rate is also fast. Some bacteria are very particular with their environment. This also helps to maintain a number of bacteria that will inhabit Earth.

  • 8 years ago

    In my opinion, they have to compete with each other for food sources so each bacteria's population is kept at a max. Also, their life span is relatively short.

  • 8 years ago

    They couldnt servive properly because of the temparature and environment. After that if they grow massive they are become the food of other.

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