Download Microbial Ecology Overview

Microbial Ecology Overview
Microorganisms
Microbiological sampling of past space missions indicate that the exclusion of
microorganisms from spacecraft, even with strict decontamination procedures, is
not feasible. The inclusion of plants and bioreactors in space-based facilities to
provide life support requirements will significantly increase the numbers of
microorganisms. For example, up to 100 million bacteria can be found per gram
dry weight of plant root.
What is microbial ecology?
Microbial ecology is the study of the relationship between microorganisms and
the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of their environment. The
microbial ecology of a bioregenerative system involves the interactions between
microorganisms and plants, humans, and hardware. Several potential problems
associated with these microbial interactions have been suggested. Plant disease
in a bioregenerative system could seriously impact the production rate of life
support requirements. Human diseases could
be rapidly spread through a closed system. Excessive microbial growth on
plumbing lines could obstruct the flow of nutrient solution or other fluids in the
system. One of the goals of the KSC-Breadboard Project is to quantify the
potential for these problems during the operation of our prototype bioregenerative
system.
Author: Jay Garland ([email protected])/Dynamac International, Inc.
Last Revised: 12/12/97 (C. Loader)
A service provided by the Biomedical Office, NASA/Kennedy Space Center: Dr.
William Knott, Chief Scientist, Biological Programs.