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Bacteria and the Environment
Bacteria has an important role in the environment as many dead materials are decomposed by bacteria. If there were no bacteria, the environment would be polluted and full of harmful micro-organisms, toxic to the animal and plant populations. Bacteria degrades the dead organic matter and converts it into energy and nutrients for the rest of the organisms. For another example, bacteria is able to decompose trees and get their food from them in the form of nutrition. This ecosystem is very important in our daily living.

Importance of Bacteria in Pond water
Adding bacteria to your pond water is the best way to maintain pond leaves. Adding beneficial bacteria is essential for the water garden and seeding of pond filters. Once established, the bacteria lives by eating fish waste and other organic matter in the pond. Bacteria converts ammonia into nitrites which are then converted into nitrates. This process known as the Nitrogen Cycle is an important part of water maintenance. It is essential to the health of your pond inhabitants. Microorganisms of all kinds play a great role in pond ecosystems. Single cellular algae provide oxygen to the water in which they live.

Useful Bacteria
Some bacteria are not only useful, but are important in our everyday lives. Organic fertilizers are broken down by bacteria into materials that can be used by plants. Decomposed vegetable and animal matter is thus transformed into nutrients that are absorbed through the roots of other plants. Many species of soil bacteria fix nitrogen; that is, they convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, compounds that are readily absorbed by plants. . Some of these bacteria live together, but some can also act independently as well. Some examples of good bacteria include:
 * Lactobacillus which is found in the human digestive tract which helps break down sugars.
 * Algae which is a long-term sustainable source of fuel food that can be used by other plants.
 * Bacillus thuringiensis which is a bacteria used in the place of pesticides.

Harmful Bacteria
And then of course, other bacteria is harmful to both animals and plants which can act to cause diseases or other issues. Some examples of harmful bacteria include:
 * Cyanobacteria which is often referred to as "pond scum" that releases toxins into aquatic ecosystems.
 * Pathogenic bacteria which are harmful bacteria that are capable of causing diseases and even death. Some notable pathogenic bacteria include:
 * Staphylococcus
 * Escherichia coli

Humans and Bacteria
Our intestines and our bodies, in general are a perfect environment for the bacteria that thrive in it. But is bacteria seen as a friend or foe to the human species? While it is true that bacteria are responsible for a large number of human diseases, they also make it possible for certain elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen to be returned to the atmosphere. Most bacteria living amongst humans share a mutualistic relatiomship. In a mutualistic relationship, both the bacteria and the host benefit. For example, there are several kinds of bacteria which live inside the mouth, nose, throat, and intestines of humans and animals. However, we also tend to have a parasitic relationship with bacteria. A parasitic relationship is one in which the bacteria benefit while the host is harmed. Pathogenic parasites, which cause disease, do so by resisting the host's defenses and growing at the expense of the host. These bacteria produce poisonous substances called endotoxins and exotoxins which are responsible for the symptoms that occur with an illness.

Final Remark
It is important to understand that bacteria affects all species - whether it may be plants, animals, and specifically the human species.