UBIQUITY OF MICROORGANISMS

Prado, R., Tarun, N.A.

ABSTRACT
Microbial growth is extraordinarily diverse and every species demonstrates a unique
combination of characteristics. These characteristics serve as microorganisms’ mechanisms for
adapting and thriving in various environmental pressures, resulting in the diverse spatial
distribution and ubiquity of microbial species. Understanding the ubiquity of microorganisms is
crucial for the improvement of knowledge on microbial biogeography and ecology and the
appreciation of microbes’ role in maintaining ecosystem balance. In this experiment, the ubiquity
of microorganisms is investigated to obtain significant inferences on their distribution. Proper
characterization and comparison of microbial species based on colony formation is also
underlined. Previously prepared plates are exposed to the air, inside lockers and samples from
water, soil, used clothes and shoes, books and human scalp are obtained. Agar plates containing
the samples are then incubated and observed for colonial growth after 24 hours. Results show
that all exposed plates exhibit significant microbial growth, the most abundant growth observed
in plates exposed to air and soil and relatively fewer growths are manifested in the remaining
plates. These suggest that air and soil have the most diverse microorganisms represented by the
abundant growth observed. The results further indicate that microorganisms are ubiquitous,
evident in the growth observed in the remaining plates exposed to a variety of environment.
Significantly, such imply that microbes are diverse manifested in the colonies formed and the
geographic area they are obtained.

INTRODUCTION

Microorganisms’ significant function in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem is

irrefutable, playing a key role in nutrient cycling, decomposition, food chain, and oxygen and

organic compounds production, among others. Microbes are ubiquitous, diverse in morphology,

habitat, and function, but microbial diversity was previously the least understood component of

biodiversity (Esteban & Finlay, 2001) until knowledge and fundamental researches in the field

commenced around 1970 (Barton & Northup, 2011). Since then, understanding on microbial
diversity and ubiquity grew exponentially with the discovery and implementation of molecular

phylogeny to study environmental microbiology (Barton & Northup, 2011).

The wide range of adaptations undertaken by microbes throughout their long and rich

history of existence on earth resulted in their unique characteristic of ubiquity (Leiboffe &

Pierce, 2019). The diversity of microorganisms is a dynamic phenomenon which varies across

both temporal and spatial dimensions in response to changes in the biotic and abiotic components

of ecosystems (Ogunseitan, 2005). The spatial distribution of microorganisms is often anchored

on Baas Becking’s famous tenet, “everything is everywhere but environment selects”, where the

phrase “everything is everywhere” alludes to the remarkable dispersal potential of

microorganisms, and “the environment selects” implies that only specifically adapted organisms

will thrive and proliferate in a particular environment (Bosi et. al, 2016). Simply put, the Baas

Becking hypothesis claims that microorganisms are diverse and dispersed worldwide due to their

microscopic size and dormancy capabilities, and that their distribution is restricted only by

environmental conditions. While the authenticity and factuality of this hypothesis is the center of

much heated debate among microbiologists in the present due to significant evidences arising to

contradict the claim, microorganisms, nevertheless, are ubiquitous, evident and can be isolated

everywhere from the soil, water, plants, animals, and even from unhabitable

conditions(Fontaneto, 2011).

As such, microorganisms can live in the soil, the foundation of all terrestrial ecosystems

which shelters a vast diversity of microbes, flora, and fauna. The soil is a product of the unique

combination of geological parent material, glacial and geomorphologic history, the presence and

activity of biota, and the history of land use and disturbance regimes (Aislabie & Deslippe,

2013). Such interplay of spatiotemporal, physical, chemical, and nutritional variables caused the
ecological heterogeneity of the soil and delineated soil spheres that lead to the ubiquity of

microorganisms geographically, physiologically, and phylogenetically (Garbeva et. al, 2004).

Soil thriving microbes are critical to the maintenance of soil function in both natural and

managed agricultural soils. Such microorganisms are involved in key processes such as soil

structure formation, organic matter decomposition, toxin removal, and nutrient cycling of

carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. Soil microbes are also essential in suppressing soil

borne plant diseases to promote plant growth and changes in vegetation (Or & Tecon, 2017).

Similarly, microorganisms also survive in the atmosphere, although microbial

communities in this environment are still not well defined as the atmosphere is considered as one

of the last frontiers of biological exploration on earth. Taxonomic studies of bacterial diversity in

the outdoor air have just emerged and the knowledge of potential air microbial is very scant.

Still, it is evident that the air is not only composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide but

also traces of other gases, inorganic matter and particles of biological origin latter termed as

bioaerosols. A large part of bioaerosols are microorganisms that colonize the soil, water bodies,

plant surfaces, rocks, and buildings, readily released to the air by wind erosion and splashing

water. Air microbes can affect atmospheric shmictry and physics and signify important

implications in meteorology and global climate (Polymenakou, 2012).

Microorganisms also live in aquatic environments, both marine and freshwater those

differ in many ways including salinity, average temperature, depth, and nutrient content, but still

provide excellent habitats for microorganisms (Aryal et. al, 2015). The aquatic environment

offers potential advantages over terrestrial existence to support microbial growth including

physical support through buoyancy, accessibility of three dimensional space, passive movement

of water currents, dispersal of motile gametes in a liquid medium, minimal loss of water, lower
extremes of temperature and solar radiation, and ready availability of soluble organic and

inorganic nutrients, among others (Sigee, 2005).

Marine microbial communities are integral parts of the aquatic biome responsible for the

uptake of a large part of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans into the atmosphere. In the same

manner, marine microorganisms are the basis of the ocean food web and produce the food for

life in the ocean. More recently, it has been realized that marine microorganisms may be relevant

agents for the sustainable production of energy (Glockner et. al, 2012).

Microbes are also found among humans, plants, and animals, which often establish

symbiotic relationships among these organisms. More importantly, microorganisms are often

found in extreme environments where the temperature, radiation, pressure, pH or salinity

properties are beyond the range for human tolerance. Some examples are extremely cold

environment or high deep pressure such as deep oceans. Other environments are hydrothermal

vents, hypersaline lakes and pools, alkaline soda lakes, dry deserts and clouds. Such organisms

are called extremophiles, which developed mechanisms to remain viable and active despite

challenges in membrane fluidity changes, effects of transcription and translation and DNA

damage and nucleic acids exposed to high temp, radiation, oxidative damage and desiccation

(Chenard & Lauro, 2017).

Indeed, microorganisms are ubiquitous and diverse and such ubiquity is underlined and

evaluated in this experiment. Likewise, this experiment also inculcates among students the

proper incubation methods and the accurate description and comparison of the growth of

microorganisms on the plates.

Previously prepared and sterilized agar plates were utilized and exposed to different

environment to obtain microbial samples. Two agar plates were exposed to air, water samples

were added to other two plates and one plate contained soil sample. Five remaining plates were

exposed to environment of choice, including lockers, used clothes, shoes, books, and human

scalp.

The agar plates were incubated in inverted position after obtaining samples tho avoid the

formation of moist that may interfere with the growth of microbes. The growth of microbial

species was observed after 24 hours of incubation, recording significant differences on the

relative amount of growth and colony formation on each plate.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Microorganisms outnumber terrestrial organisms by many orders of magnitude even

though humans are considered to be at the top of the pyramid of living organisms on Earth,

dominating the ecosystems and comprising majority of earth’s biodiversity because the diversity

across the microbial world is dramatic in size and function (Batt, 2016). Since microorganisms

are present everywhere, in air, soil, water, in human body and even to extreme environments,

exposing the prepared agar plates in air for 5-15 minutes contaminates the media with

microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae, archaea, prions, and viroids.

To test the ubiquity of microorganisms in air, the first two plates were exposed at SM

Food Court and along UP Drive respectively. Results observed after incubation indicate that

abundant microbial growth is present on the plates.

a b

Fig. 1. Nutrient Agar (NA) Plates Exposed to the Air (a) SM Food court (b) UP Drive

Baguio City as the Summer Capital of the Philippines remains as a must-visit destination

because of its cold weather and attractive destinations. Which is why, SM Baguio is always full-

packed by tourists. According to the City Tourism Office, over 1,760,729 tourists visited Baguio

City in 2018, a 15.1 percent increase from the recorded 1,521,748 tourists in year 2017. With this

indication, the probability of people going or strolling in the mall is too high. Moreover, there’s

also an unprecedented increase in the number of registered vehicles in the city. Based on data

from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), over 57,600 increased in the number of registered

vehicles in 2018 as to the over 44,500 registered vehicles in 2017.

The result in the first agar plate shows a heavy growth, not just colonies of bacteria but

also fungi, which indicate that the huge populace visiting the area contribute to the numerous

amount of microorganisms in the place. Likewise, the area is closed and the air circulates within

the place itself, giving rise for more microorganisms to thrive.

On the other hand, the vast increase of vehicles passing along U.P. Drive and the smoke

these vehicles emit can add microorganisms into the air. Despite showing relatively lesser

growth then the first plate exposed in the air, the second plate exhibits moderate growth of
microorganisms. This moderate growth might be due to the continuous circulation of air around

the area since it is an open space.

The next two plates were applied with two drops of water coming from the free drinking

water at the SM food court commercially available bottled distilled drinking water.

a b

Fig. 2. Nutrient Agar (NA) plates applied with water (a) free-water from SM food court (b)

bottled-water

The source of the water from SM food court is unknown. The microbial growth that can

be seen in the plate is moderate growth. While the other one, the bottled water, the relative

amount of growth is just light.

Chapelle (2000) stated that water can support the growth of many types of

microorganisms. Some examples are chemical activities of certain strains of yeasts provide us

with beer and bread. Moreover, the growth of some bacteria in contaminated water can help

digest the poisons from the water. Thus, some microorganisms can be advantageous. However,

the presence of other disease causing microbes in water is unhealthy and even life threatening.

Many microorganisms are found naturally in fresh and saltwater. These include bacteria,
cyanobacteria, protozoa, and algae. These can be important in the food chain that forms the basis

of life in the water (Mandigan et. Al, 2000).

Disease-causing microbes can be found in pretreated or inadequately treated water. These

microorganisms can act as an indicator if there’s a problem in the treatment process or in the

integrity of distribution system (Woodie, 2014). Ashbolt (2015) claimed that through some

human activities like poor disinfection or purification methods can contaminate the water and the

increase the risks for fungi growth.

Meanwhile, diverse microorganisms are present in soil. The fifth nutrient agar plate was

sprinkled with soil. The microorganisms grew all over the plate and there’s confluent growth.

Thus, the relative amount of growth on the plate is a heavy growth.

Fig. 3. Nutrient Agar (NA) Plate with Soil

Soil microorganisms are involved in the decomposition of soil organic matter, and the

rate of decomposition depends both on the nature of microorganisms in soil and the nature of

organic matter sources (Ramesh, et. al., 2019). The ability of soil microorganisms to decompose

organic matter is a function of their population complexity. The diversity of microorganisms

enhances the capability of soil to degrade a wide variety of organic substances; some prey on

pathogenic bacteria and reduce the survival of viruses. The rate at which organic matter
decomposition occurs and the exact nature of the intermediate and end products depend in part

on the composition of the added organic matter in the wastewater (Dwevedi, et. al., 2017).

The sixth plate consists of microorganisms from the human scalp. The plate was

covered with many colonies indicating that the amount of growth is heavy growth.

Fig. 4. Nutrient Agar (NA) Plate inoculated from Human Scalp

Apart from the skin surface, hair represents a significant tissue component with a

capacity of bacterial interactions (Kerk, et. al., 2018). According to a recent study published in

Scientific Reports, the specific collection of bacteria that resides beneath the hair could influence

how much dandruff will be developed. One example of a bacterium that can be found in a human

scalp is Propionibacterium which it can control the dandruff in the human scalp.

Second-hand clothes are not absolutely clean when bought, causing skin allergies to some

that are using it without washing it first. On the other hand, there are many people who like the

smell of a newly-bought book without knowing the risk of contamination.

The growth patterns observed indicate that the plate inoculated from second-hand coat

has a relative amount of growth of moderate growth since half of the plate is covered with

different colonies. Few colonies are visible on the plate exposed to a book; hence the relative

amount of growth is light.

Fig. 5. Nutrient Agar (NA) Plates (a) inoculated from second-hand coat (b) book

Pathogenic microorganisms can be present on second-hand garments. There’s a risk for

the spreading of pathogens in feces, vomit, and skin scales onto the clothing and the infection

risk depends on the pathogens’ ability to survive on fabrics. Thus, second-hand clothing might

have been contaminated with pathogens that survive longer even if they have been washed.

Despite of multiple washing, it does not eliminate all the microorganisms in clothing as it

depends on how the washing was done such as on the kind of detergent and bleach used, or even

the drying as some microorganisms may survive in certain temperatures (Bloomfield, et. al.,

2011). Same idea with the second-hand clothes, books can be contaminated with microorganisms

in terms of the materials used in creating it. Moreover, the fact on how many times the book was

used by different people.

below, the result for the ninth plate are heavy growth with the colonies covered almost all the

surface of the medium while the tenth plate can be considered to have a light growth of

microorganisms.

a b

Fig. 6. Nutrient Agar (NA) Plate exposed (a) locker (b) a shoe

Over the years of the usage of the lockers, it is possible that at this point it was already

contaminated with microorganisms. The materials that are in the locker can also add

microorganisms to the air within the locker. Some are pathogenic that can cause diseases to a

person that is using a locker. On the other hand, it was mentioned earlier that human skin can

have microorganisms. When it comes to the shoes, microorganisms are also present. One

indication that there are microbes present in a shoe is the odor. Shoes that have foul odor are

contaminated with microbes.

Thus, microorganisms can be present anywhere and its growth is inevitable since they

cannot be stop since they can reproduce sexually and asexually and the fact that one colony

represents millions of cell. Since one colony represents a millions of cells in order to sustain the

nutrients needed in the growth of each cell then one colony stop growing when it reach a certain
size not to over crowd the colony (Lodish, Berk, Zipursky, et. al., 2000). They can also thrive in

different environments and conditions.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Microorganisms possess unique characteristics that provide them the advantage of

adapting to varied environmental conditions, leading to their ubiquity and diversity. As such,

microorganisms are present in almost every environment, in the air, water, soil, living organisms,

and extreme environments. In this experiment, the ubiquity of microorganisms is evaluated,

exposing prepared nutrient agar media into different environmental conditions to obtain

microbial growth. The plates are incubated to allow microbes to grow and observed for the

growth pattern established. Plates exposed to air and the soil exhibit the most abundant growth,

while the remaining plates indicate moderate to light microbial growth. Several factors that

contribute for such results are mentioned, for instance, population congestion causing severe

contamination of air. These results suggest that microbes indeed are ubiquituous and found

everywhere, growing and thriving so long as their nutritional and environmental requirements

are met. It can also be concluded that the significant growth obtained reflect the proper

incubation requirements executed and critical comparison of the growth patterns observed are

made.
REFERENCES
Aislabie, J. & Deslippe, J. (2013). Soil microbes and their contribution to soil services.In

Dymond JR ed. Ecosystem services in New Zealand – conditions and trends. Licoln, New

Zealand: Manaaki Whenua Press.

Aryal, S., Karki, G., Pandey, S. (2015). Microbial diversity in freshwater and marine

environment. Nepal Journal of Biotechnology, 3(1): 68-70.

Ashbolt, N. (2015, January 27). Microbial Contamination of Drinking Water and Human Health

from Community Water Systems. Retrieved September 14, 2019, from NCBI:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4372141/

Baguio City registers 1.3 million tourist arrivals. (2017, May 14). Retrieved September 14,

2019, from Business Mirror: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/05/14/baguio-city-

registers-1-3-million-tourist-arrivals/

Barton, L. & Northup, D. (2011). Microbial ecology. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and

Sons

Batt, C. A. (2016, April 11). Microorganisms. Retrieved September 15, 2019, from

ScrienceDirect:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081005965034363

Bloomfield, S., MArtin, E., Signorelli, C., Nath, K., & Scott, E. (2011, April). The infection risks

associated with clothing and household linens in home and everyday life settings, and the

role of laundry. Retrieved September 15, 2019, from European Issue: http://

europeantissue.com/wp-content/ uploads/The-infection-risks-associated-with-clothing-

and-household-linens. pdf
Bosi, E., Fanil, R., Fondil, M., McInerney, J., Karkman, A., Tamminen, M., Virta, M. et al.

(2016). “Every gene is everywhere but the environment selects”: Global geolocalization

of gene sharing in environmental samples through network analysis.Genome Biological

Evolution, 8(5):1388–1400. doi:10.1093/gbe/evw077

Cabreza, V. (2019, June 11). MMDA offers help to fix Baguio traffic. Retrieved September 14,

2019, from Inquirer.net: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1128792/mmda-offers-help-to-fix-

baguio-traffic

Chapelle, F. (2000). Ground Water Microbiology and Geochemistry. New York: John Wiley &

Sons.

Chenard, C. & Lauro, F. (2017). Microbial ecology of extreme environments. Cham,

Switzerland: Springer International Publishing

Commanda, Z. (2018, March 5). Baguio posts 1.7-million tourist arrivals in 2017. Retrieved

September 15, 2019, from Manila Bulletin: https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/05/baguio-

posts-1-7-million-tourist-arrivals-in-2017/

Dwevedi, A., Kumar, P., Kumar, P., Kumar, Y., Sharma, Y., & Kayastha, A. (2017). 15 - Soil

sensors: detailed insight into research updates, significance, and future prospects. new

Pesticides and Soil Sensors , 561-594.

Fontaneto, D. (2011). Biogeography of microscopic organisms: Is everything small everywhere?

USA: Cambridge University Press

microbial populatioons by plant and soil type and implications for diseases

suppressiveness. Annual Review Phytopathology, 42: 243-70.

Glöckner F., Stal, J., Sandaa,R., Gasol, J., O’Gara, F., Hernandez, F., Labrenz, M., et. al. (2012).

Marine microbial diversity and its role in ecosystem functioning and environmental

change. Marine Board Position Paper 17. Ostend, Belgium: Marine Board-ESF.

Kerk, S. K., Lai, H. Y., Sze, S. K., Ng, K. W., Schmidtchen, A., & Adav, S. (2018, September

7). Bacteria Display Differential Growth and Adhesion Characteristics on Human Hair

Shafts. Retrieved September 15, 2019, from NCBI:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6137140/

Leboffe, M. & Pierce, B. (2019). Microbiology: Laboratory theory and application essentials.

USA: Morton Publishing Company

Maldarelli, C. (2016, May 12). The Bacteria On Your Scalp Could Be Key To Fighting Dandruff.

Retrieved September 15, 2019, from Popular Science: https://www.popsci.com/right-

balance-bacteria-on-your-scalp-could-be-key-to-fighting-dandruff/

Mandigan, M., Martinko, J., & Parker, J. (2000). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (8th Edition

ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Ogunseitan, O. (2005). Microbial diversity: Form and function in prokaryotes. Oxford, United

Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Or, D., & Tecon, R. (2017). Ubiquituous microbes and ecosystem function. FEMS Microbiology

Reviews, 41: 599-623.

Atomphere, 3, 87-102; doi:10.3390/atmos3010087

Ramesh, T., Bolan, N., Kirkham, M. B., Wijesekara, H., Kanchikerimath, M., Rao, C. S., et al.

(2019). Chapter One - Soil organic carbon dynamics: Impact of land use changes and

management practices: A review. Advances in Agronomy , 1-107.

Registered motor vehicles in Baguio up. (2019, February 4). Retrieved September 14, 2019, from

Sun Star: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1786076

See, D. A. (2019, March 3). Baguio tourist arrivals rise by 15.7 percent. Retrieved September

15, 2019, from HeraldExpress: http://www.baguioheraldexpressonline.com/baguio-

tourist-arrivals-rise-by-15-7-percent/

Sigee, D. (2005). Freshwater microbiology. West Sussex, England: John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Woodie, M. (2014, July 31). Bacteria and Viruses Commonly Found in Drinking Water.

Retrieved September 14, 2019, from Water Technology:

https://www.watertechonline.com/bacteria-and-viruses-commonly-found-in-drinking-

water/