3/8/2011

Atmoecosphere Outline
The Atmosphere as an Environment
I. Introduction

II. Characteristics of the environment

III. Organisms present

IV. Adaptations of the organisms present

Atmosphere Atmosphere - Components

• “gas” + “ball” • Constant

• gaseous envelope that surrounds the earth • Nitrogen (78.

78.08%
08%)
• Oxygen (≈21.
21.00%
00%)
• contains solid and liquid particles • Argon (0.93%
93%)
• Helium, Neon, Krypton (0.001
001%%)
• Makes Earth unique from the other planets

Atmosphere - Components Atmosphere - layers

• Variable • Troposphere

• Carbon dioxide* • from surface to (6-8 mi or 10-

10-13 km)
• Water vapor*
• Methane, Sulfur dioxide, Ozone and Nitrogen • contains most water vapor
oxides (NO, NO2)
• vertical currents present
* - absorbs heat energy
• 75%
75% of air in the entire atmosphere

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• Stratosphere • Mesosphere

• from Troposphere top to (4-11 mi or 6-17 km) • coldest part of the atmosphere
to (30 mi or 60 km)
• little water vapor • contains ionosphere
• horizontal currents present • absorbs most energetic photons from the sun
• Ozone layer found on top affecting reflection of radio waves

• Thermosphere • Exosphere

• 50-
50-300 mi or 80-
80-480 km • last layer of the atmosphere

• air less dense

dense;; warmest • particles are far apart they can travel hundreds
of kilometers without colliding with each other
• steadily increasing temperature (1,200 °C)

TROPOSPHERE
• Troposphere • Laminar Boundary Layer
• Lower layers of the atmosphere extending from
the ground to a height of approximately 10 km • Lowest layer of moving air above the still air

• Layers of the troposphere • Layer thickness depends on wind conditions

• Laminar Boundary Layer
• Local Eddy Layer • Layer that is always in motion and responsible
• Turbulent Boundary Layer for horizontal transport phenomena (wind
• Transitional or Outer Frictional Turbulence Layer dispersion)
• Convective Layer

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• Turbulent Boundary Layer

• Local Eddy Layer • characterized by turbulence due to surface

irregularities
layer represented by eddies caused by small
roughness or cup
cup--shaped depressions on the • swirling turbulence due to formation of friction
surface against currents

• increase in wind speed vertically expands this

layer

• Transitional Layer • Convective Layer

• 500 m to 1000 m above surface • frictional turbulence does not reach this layer

• turbulence generated below still dominate but
decreases with altitude
• limit to where dust and spores may be carried
upwards by turbulence
• particles may still be carried to this layer by
large--scale convection currents when the
large
ground is heated by sunshine

• The layers of the troposphere changes in

thickness depending on the time of day
Atmoecosphere

• Day vs
vs.. Night
FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH

• Cloudy vs
vs.. Cloudless

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Nature and Physiological State of

Size
Organisms
• low Aw requirement • determines the period of time for which they
• special structures such as exopolysaccharides, remain suspended in air
proteins, capsules and slime layer
• ability to produce many structures for • smaller organisms easily liberates in air and
dispersal remain for a longer period
• ability to produce spores
• spore > vegetative cells • fungi has many fragments of mycelia
• spores are more tolerant to environmental dispersed in air
stress than vegetative cell

State of Suspension Atmospheric Temperature

• plays an important role in the settling of • highly varies in different
layer of the atmosphere
microorganisms in air
• troposphere - T° decreases
• organisms in free state
heavier than air
with altitude
settle slowly in quiet atmosphere • above troposphere -
temperature start to increase
• organisms are seldom found in free state
state..
• increase in temperature

increase in death rate of cells

• very high or very low T°

low available moisture

State of Suspension Air Current

• amount of water vapor that exists in a gaseous mixture of air

and water vapor • influences the
microorganisms or the
particles laden with
microorganisms remain
• optimum relative humidity for most microorganisms 40 to 80% suspended in air

• low or high relative humidity
decrease in the number or • still air – particles settle
down gentle air current –
microorganisms in air particles are suspended for
relatively longer periods
• viruses are more resistant to low RH (17-
(17-25%)
• also important in the
dispersal of microorganisms
• Gram (+) more resistant to high RH than Gram (-
(- )

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Oxygen Concentration Other Factors Affecting

Microorganisms in Air
• Moisture Content
• decreases with increase • related to temperature
altitude
• high temperature
low available water
• troposphere -holds the • Nutrient Content
highest amount of oxygen • very low in air to support growth of many organisms
• stratosphere -contains
• Radiation
reactive forms of oxygen • increases with altitude
• causes mutations in microorganisms suspended in air
• mesosphere and • Activity of the People and Animals
ionosphere – very little
oxygen, mostly reactive • introduce most of the microorganisms found in air

Dust particles

Atmoecosphere Water vapour

MICROBES Gases
MICROBIOLOGY
in the AIR Algal spores

Fungal spores

Bacteria

(Microbiologyprocedure, 2008
2008))

Aerosols
Atmoecosphere machine fans Wind blown
air conditioners long suspension time
vents
• No microbes are indigenous to the atmosphere

• Represent allochthonous populations

Man's Actions
The SOURCES
ploughing of Microbes in Air
• More microbes are found in air over land masses than far at sea
digging
excavation Water droplets Human/Animal
• Air is mainly the transport or dispersal medium for
construction fountains breath
microorganisms
irrigation streams cough
fertilizers ponds sneeze
• Relatively small numbers when compared with soil or water
rivers talk
laugh

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Spore Dispersal Processes Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.)

• Xenospores – spores whose primary funtion 1. Spore Liberation – process by which

is dispersal
spore “take
“take--off” into the air
• The process of wind dispersal of spores has A. Passive Mechanism – spores are liberated
three principal stages
stages:: by the action of external energy
• Spore Libertion a. Shedding under gravity
• Dispersion
b. Blowing away – deflation
deflation;; spores are carried
• Depostion away by wind actions
• Chlorella (algae) and Oikomonas (protozoan)

Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.) Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.)

c. Mist pick
pick--up – conidiophores collide with minute
droplets carried by laden air b. Squirt gun – ascus containing the ascospores swells
Cladosporium sp.
sp.
•
at maturity, and finally burts at the tip, projecting
d. Splash Dispersal – spores become incorporated in
splash droplets
spore into the air ( Ascomycotina
Ascomycotina;; e.g. Aspergillus
Aspergillus))
• Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (causal agent of c. Squirting – spore are propelled violently into the
angular leaf spot of cotton) and Erwinia air (e.
(e.g. Pilobolus kleinii)
kleinii)
carotovora subsp. atroseptica (black leg of potato)
d. Rounding off of turgid cells
B. Active Mechanism – spores are liberated by • flattened double walls between two turgid cells
suddenly separate (e.
(e.g. Sphaerobolus
Sphaerobolus))
energy operating through the parent structure
a. Hygroscopic mechanism – movement of conidiophores e. Basidiospore dispersal – a drop of water is excreted
resulting to the detachment of spores during violent at the hilum end of the spore then the spore shot
twist off immediately (Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota;;Sporobolomyces
Sporobolomyces))
• Botrytis cinerea

Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.) Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.)

2. Dispersion – transport of spores by air c. Charge – microorganisms are attracted to

current other suspended particles of the opposite
charge
Factors affecting Spores Dispersion
a. Size of the microorganism
d. Air current – determines the suspension
smaller size, easier liberation, longer
time of the microorganisms in air
suspension
b. State of suspension – affects the sttling of
microorganisms in air e. Human activity – can disperse
microorganisms from certain habitat to
the air

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Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.) Spore Dispersal Processes (cont.)

3. Deposition – process by which spores c. Turbulent deposition – turbulence causes

leave the air vertical distribution of microflora
a. Gravity sedimentation – microorganisms
settle out from air under gravity d. Precipitation

b. Impaction – deposition of the spores on e. Rain washing

the windward side of the small surface
that projects into the wind

Significance of Microorganisms in air Significance in human health

•Food manufacture •Airacts as a medium for transmission of

• Involved in fermentation products infectious agents
•Spoilage of foods and fermentation •<1% of the airborne bacteria are
products pathogens
•Airborne diseases •Staphylococcus aureus – most common
• Droplet infection •Chance for the spread of infectious
• Airborne infection diseases is more in indoor air than
outdoor

Significance in hospitals

•Actas a reservoir of pathogenic

microorganisms Atmoecosphere
•Nosocomial infection
MICROORGANISMS IN AIR
• Infection acquired during hospitalization

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Organisms present Organisms present

• Can be studied under two headings: • Outdoor microflora

• Outside air – air in the atmosphere found
which is found outside the building
• Outdoor microflora
• Fungi are the dominant microflora
• Cladosporium and Sporobolomyces – most
• Indoor microflora common
• Aspergilllus
• Alternaria
• Phytophthora
• Erysiphe

Organisms present Organisms present

• Among the bacterial genera are: • Indoor microflora

• Bacillus • Indoor air – air found inside the building
• Clostridium
• Concentrations of microorganisms is
• Sarcina
higher than outdoors
• Micrococcus
• Most common genera of fungifungi::
• Corynebacterium
• Penicillium
• Achromobacter
• Aspergillus

Organisms present Organisms present

• Most common genera of bacteria: • Bacteria • Protozoa

• Vegetative or • Airborne protozoan
dormant “eggs” or cysts
• Staphylococci • Common genera
genera:: • Include::
Include
• Micrococcus • Amoeba
• Bacillus • Clostridium • Bodo
• Bacillus • Monas
Calpoda
• Clostridium •

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Organisms present Organisms present

Algae • Fungi
Occurrence and concentration have not yet • Most dominant group
been studied much
Genera collected in previous studies
studies:: • Common genera:
Chlorococcum • Rhizopus
Chlorella • Aspergillus
Plerococcus • Cladosporium
Stichococcus
• Penicillium
Navicula
Rare occurrence of other diatoms and
desmids

Organisms present Organisms present

(at certain altitudes)
Height (ft) Bacteria Fungi
• Viruses
Aspergillus,
• Common viruses found: 1500--4500
1500 Alcaligenes, Bacillus Macrosporum,
Penicillium
• Flu and influenza virus
Aspergillus,
4500--7500
4500 Bacillus
Cladosporium

• Plants 7500--10500
7500 Sarcina, Bacillus
Aspergillus,
Hormodendrum
• Pollens (flowering plants)
Aspergillus,
10500--13500
10500 Bacillus, Kurthia
• Spores (sporophytes) Hormodenrum

13500--16500
13500 Micrococcus, Bacillus Penicillium

Adaptations (cont.)

• Resting spores of bacteria

Atmoecosphere

ADAPTATIONS TO THE • endospore

with thick multi
multi--layer covering
ENVIRONMENT
•

• resistant to most unfavorable conditions

• cannot be used for reproduction

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Adaptations (cont.) Adaptations (cont.)

• air mycelium • Resistant vegetative cells of bacteria

• Vertical, filiform cells produce by
Actinomycetes
• Capable of fragmentation producing numerous • Production of carotenoids
ball--shaped formations
ball
• Ensures cells with solar radiation protection
• Also called conidia
• Serves as antioxidants
• Used for reproduction
• Protects important biological macromolecules (DNA,
proteins, etc.
etc.)
• cysts of Azotobacter
• Capable of molecular nitrogen assimilation

Adaptations (cont.) Adaptations (cont.)

• High lipid concentration • Fungal spores

• Contributes to the significant resistance to
drying
• e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis • Have extremely thick cell wall which
protects it from desiccation
• Capsule
• Confers high survival rates for bacteria • Have small size and low density which
• e.g. Klebsiella allows it to float in the air for a long time

Adaptations (cont.) Adaptations (cont.)

•Resistant viruses • Clouds serve as temporary habitat for

• Highest resistance are those with microorganisms
enveloped nucleocapsids
• e.g. influenza viruses
• Possess concentration of water which
• Without enveloped nucleocapsids permits microbial growth
• e.g. enteroviruses

• Has sufficient light intensity and carbon

concentration to support growth

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Adaptations (cont.) Adaptations (cont.)

• Fungi and some bacteria enter the
atmosphere as aerosols
• Aerosols/ Bioaerosols
• a colloidal system composed of
microorganisms
• Can occur in two phases
• Dust phase (e.g. bacterial dust)
• Droplet phase (e.g. formed as a result of water
vapour condensation or during sneezing)
• Factors affecting the ability of bioaerosol to
survive in air:
air :
• Particular resistance for a given microorganisms
• Meteorological conditions
• Air pollution
• The length of time in air

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