In a hypothetical situation, a bacterium lives on the surface of a leaf, where it obtains nutrition from the leaf's nonliving, waxy covering while inhibiting the growth of other microbes that are plant pathogens. If this bacterium gains access to the inside of a leaf, however, it causes a fatal disease in the plant. Once the plant dies, the bacterium and its offspring decompose the plant. What is the correct sequence of ecological roles played by the bacterium in the situation described here?

Answers:

First lets add the missing piece of information

Use only those that apply.

1. nutrient recycler

2. mutualist

3. commensal

4. parasite

5. primary producer

A) 1, 3, 4

B) 2, 3, 4

C) 2, 4, 1

D) 1, 2, 5

E) 1, 2, 3

The CORRECT ANSWER IS C)

C) 2, 4, 1

Explanation:

Mutualism is a form of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms that takes part in the relationship benefits from the relationship without one causing one harm or the other. In this case study, a bacterium lives on the surface of a leaf, where it obtains nutrition from the leaf's nonliving, waxy covering while inhibiting the growth of other microbes that are plant pathogens- both benefits from the relationship.

A Parasite is an organism that lives in or depends on another organism, by starving the organism of nutrients e.t.c. Here, If this bacterium gains access to the inside of a leaf, however, it causes a fatal disease in the plant - bacterium is the parasite and the leaf is the host.

A nutrient recycler specializes in the process of exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the formation of matter. In this scenario, Once the plant dies, the bacterium and its offspring decompose the plant- bacterium is the nutrient recycler.

step 1 ammonium can be absorbed by plants, but some is converted into nitrates which are better for plants to absorb. this is called nitrification. 2. step 2 the deer eats the plants and uses the nitrogen-containing proteins for cell growth. 3. step 3 bacteria in the soil conduct nitrogen fixation to convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonium. 4. step 4 some of the nitrates are absorbed back into plants, but denitrification breaks down the nitrates into nitrogen gas released back into the atmosphere. 5. step 5 nitrogen is found in the urine, which gets broken down into ammonium through the process of ammonification. 6. step 6 plants absorb the ammonium and begin assimilation, the process to add the nitrogen to protein.