
Microbes in Ecosystem Services
Microbes also provide essential ecosystem services, the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems. These include decomposition and nutrient cycling, which contribute to soil fertility and productivity; water purification, through the removal of pollutants by microbes; and even climate regulation, through the role of microbes in carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, wetland microbes remove pollutants from water through a process called bioremediation, while soil microbes enhance agricultural productivity by converting organic matter into nutrients for plant growth.