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Biodiversity of Bacteria
Bacteria are a lesson in biodiversity. Bacteria can be found thriving in the air we breath, the soil, our own bodies and in inhospitable conditions such as the acidic toxic waste sites of old mines and the extreme hot temperatures found surrounding hot water ocean vents.
Temperature
The temperature needed for bacteria to live varies among the different types, ranging from 33 degrees Fahrenheit for some to as high as 248 degrees for others. Most bacteria need a temperature from 77 to 104 degrees for survival. These are known as mesophiles. Bacteria that live in temperatures higher than 113 degrees are referred to as thermophiles. Extremophiles thrive in temperatures ranging from 240 to 284 degrees and are usually found at hot water ocean vents. Psychropiles survive in temperatures of 33 to 59 degrees.
Environmental pH
The acidity and alkaline of the environment, the pH, also affects the ability of bacteria to survive. Most bacteria require a pH between 6 and 8. However, there are some acid-tolerant strains, some of which even use sulfuric acid as an energy source, although all bacteria maintain an internally neutral pH. Some bacteria also survive under alkaline conditions. In general, however, bacteria do not thrive or even survive in strongly acidic environments.
Salt
Bacteria require ions that are provided by salts. Therefore, a mildly salty environment is beneficial to most bacteria. High concentrations of salt (or sugar), however, can kill bacteria by causing loss of water. There are exceptions, of course. Halophilic bacteria (halophilic means salt-loving), of the Archae bacteria kingdom, thrive in an environment with a high salt concentration.