charismaticmicrofauna

When I tell people that I am a marine biologist they get very excited about my work. I know that in their mind visions of me on or in the ocean inspecting fish or having close encounters with dolphins and whales instantly flash across their mind’s eye. I can see the smile spring upon their faces. They want me to tell them my stories about what I’ve learned from those amazing giants of the sea, or how I can delight them with anthropomorphic tales of marine communities. Before the excitement gets out of hand I mention my disclaimer, expecting disappointment from the admirer to whom I am speaking, I brace myself for the fall from grace that I know is inevitable, “I study marine bacteria.” “Ooh,” they say. Sometimes, I get a polite head nod of apprehensive approval, “neat.” Sometimes, someone will say, “Eww! Gross! Be careful! Bacteria are becoming more and more antibiotic resistant everyday.”

Well thanks for the tip, but I don’t study pathogens. I study environmental microbes. You’re life wouldn’t be possible without microbes. Neither would the lives of those marine mammals that you so greatly admire for their anthropomorphic mystery and ability to gestate. It is believed that the ability for bacteria to hydrolyze a water molecule is the reason for what is called the Great Oxidation event which is why you and I are alive. Bacteria needed hydrogen which in some cases can be energetically expensive (think exhausting) for a bacteria. So, splitting a water molecule for energy released oxygen into the atmosphere which enabled the existence of more complex life forms. Without microbes we wouldn’t be able to exist. So, thank bacteria for your life.

In addition, while being a marine biologist may seem to be glamorous like Sea World, which is actually losing a lot of popularity these days, dolphins, sharks, and whales aren’t that great. There, I said it. Not only are dolphins homicidal, but they and sharks are considered apex predators which means that they’re existence on the food web is not as valuable as middle level predators below them. A more important sea mammal is the otter that prevents kelp forests from disappearing by feeding on the sea urchins who would, if left alone, release sea kelp from their holdfasts at the bottom of the sea and not exist at all. Kelp forests harbor a diversity of wildlife, and provide nutrients to many in their communities. Although, and I may be biased, I would still argue that otters are still not important as the diversity of microbes that produce the variety of chemicals in every environment that sustain life.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a live Kelp forest cam from Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Thank bacteria for your life, like dolphins a little less, and appreciate otters more often. That is my message to you today.

***Please note that this was written with particular bias toward the appreciation of microbes and against marine mammals. Not that they aren’t cute, but they are quite overrated, don’t you think?