Marine Microbial Diversity

Sobhana, K S (2025) Marine Microbial Diversity. ICAR Short Term Training Manual on Integrated Taxonomic Techniques for Marine Biodiversity Conservation. pp. 156-185.

Text CMFRI Training Manual Series No. 48_2025_Sobhana K S_Microbial Diversity.pdf Download (8MB)

Abstract

Marine microbes are a diverse and complex group of microorganisms that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. For the first 2–3 billion years of Earth's history, they were the sole life forms, likely originating in the oceans and representing the closest living descendants of primordial life. Photosynthetic microbes, in particular, were responsible for producing oxygen around two billion years ago, fundamentally altering Earth's chemistry and enabling the evolution of aerobic life. Beyond oxygen production, these microscopic organisms serve as essential biochemical factories, driving key reactions in biogeochemical cycles that sustain ecological balance. Their diverse metabolic processes, both aerobic and anaerobic, are integral to nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and overall ecosystem stability. Understanding marine microbes is, therefore, vital for maintaining the health of our planet.

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