User:Patrick Okey/sandbox

MICROBIAL WORLD Have you for a moment pondered  what the world would have been  without these tiny  or                                                     microscopic community that inhabit the soil – The Decomposers? The decomposers are majorly microscopic organisms that feed on the remains of organic matter of                                             plants and animals causing them to decay and later become component part of the soil called Humus. The main soil decomposers include Bacteria, Fungi and some protoctists. However, some macro- organisms that aid decomposition also exist including Earthworms, plant roots and some crustaceans. Littered polyethylene- (plastic bags) are non-degradable and cover the soil surface on which they are found. This covering of the soil pores, thus hampers soil aeration & drainage especially endemically littered areas. Soil micro-organisms require adequate aeration and moisture for respiration and to carry on their very important role of decomposing organic matter in the soil. . When plants and animals die, these decomposers act and feed on them causing them to decay, thus replenishing the soil nutrients absorbed by plants. Owing to this cyclical replenishment of soil nutrients by the action of decomposers, the soil remains well aerated, drained and nutritive to diverse flora and fauna that colonize and inhabit different niches and ecosystems in it. Earthworms feed directly on organic matter which is relatively high in nitrogen. During the passage of organic matter and soil through the earthworm gut, the organic matter is decomposed to some extent by bacteria and fungi. But, because the material only takes about 24 hours to pass through the earthworm, little decomposition occurs. When the material is returned to the soil in an earthworm cast, soil bacteria and fungi further degrade the material, thus adding to soil nutrients. Mites, springtails and larger soil animals also feed on organic matters. In doing so, these animals fragment the organic matter, exposing a greater surface area for colonization by bacteria and fungi, thereby increasing the rate of decomposition, thro these ways the soil is constantly replenished by nature. If on the contrary the decomposition process which requires adequate supply of air and moisture is hampered by endemic littering and coverage of the soil surface/pores by polyethylene (plastic bags) which makes it difficult for air/water to circulate properly, hence the micro-organisms run short of oxygen and no longer respire aerobically but turn to anaerobic respiration. These micro-organisms going anaerobic respiration has some negative consequences on the soil, other organisms and the environment at large. Anaerobic conditions in soil affect plant productivity as well as organic matter and nutrient dynamics. First anaerobic respiration results to partial decomposition process thus producing acidic substance- eg. (ethanol) which lowers the soil pH but the big questions here are-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           what happens to-  i. the rest micro-organisms which can’t go anaerobic (obligate aerobes) or stand low soil pH (acidic condition) if there are?. ii. Existing vegetation?. iii. Soil nutrient and texture? A brief answers to these three questions will give us an insight to the catastrophic chain effect of plastic bags coverage of the soil surface (soil pores). Firstly,Soil decomposers which can’t survive or adapt to the recent environmental change (acidic) may have to migrate from that area (this type of movement is referred to as chemo-taxis, as a result of chemo-repellant) or suffocate and die. Secondly, this change results to a shift in the natural niches or ecosystem which now encourages the emergence of species of flora and fauna that can adapt to such acidic environment and the existing vegetation will experience shortage in minerals and nutrients supply thro their roots thus leading to possible decoloration and wilting of leaves, hence, growth becomes stunted and death and extinction of these species may become imminent, if they are previously endangered. The lowering of the soil pH impoverishes the soil as this dislodges the cohesive force between the particles thus destroying the soil aggregate and texture making it loose, porous and prone to leaching and erosion. Thirdly, Water circulation and retention by the soil becomes difficult and soil support for micro & macro flora and fauna is limited and this results in the alteration of the natural food chain/web as many trophic levels are either relocated, displaced or phased out thus reducing the biodiversity. Plastic bags negative chain effects on micro and macro- organisms and the environment cannot be properly quantified. We cannot afford to underestimate the importance of micro-organisms in our environment especially the soil organic matter decomposers without which the earth would no longer be accommodable and habitable for all living things. Ponder a while, what would have happened, if there were no decomposers to act on dead bodies of humans, animals and plants all over the world? , It would have been unimaginably horrible and chaotic! Therefore we must strive to recognize and maintain this symbiotic cyclical relationship with the soil micro-organisms which  most of us do not recognize and take for granted. Governments, authorities and agencies should continue to enforce the moratorium on the production of plastic bags (polyethylene) and encourage the production of starch based biodegradable bags which in-fact consume less energy as compared to the plastic bags that consumes more energy and emit more CO2(green house gas). Polyethylene is more of an enemy to both micro and macro organisms as it has caused the death of many marine organisms. Let us therefore be environmentally friendly and go for biodegradable bags that will not alter natural cycle and maintain the symbiotic relationship with the decomposers which are friends to the environment too. References:                                                                                                                                                                              1. Earth Policy Institute (2014)                                                                                                            www.earthpolicy.org                                                                                                                                                                2. Janet Carsen & Savina Venkova (2014)                                                                                                             Downfall of Plastic Bag. 3. Andrea Lenschow & Carina Sprungk (2010)                                                                                                               The Myth of Green Europe. 4. Journal of Common Market Studies,                                                                                                                        vol.88. no.1 pp.133-154. 5. New York Times 02/02/2008 & International Herald Tribune 01/31/2008. 6. http//ec.europa.eu/clima/policies                                                                                                                                    7. Mary Jones & Geoff Jones (1996)                                                                                                                             New Edition Biology. The