Question

How are the microorganisms classified on the basis of temperature?

Answer 1

Hint: Temperature plays one of the major roles in deciding the population percentage of any species in an area. Too high or too low temperature can lead to reduction in population percentage.

Complete Answer
Microorganisms are widely controlled by their enzymes. All their metabolic processes and bodily functions are governed by enzymes. These enzymes are highly susceptible to temperature. Too high temperature kills these microorganisms whereas slight increase in temperature leads to their population growth. Increase in temperature boosts up the enzyme capacity of microbes, which eventually increases metabolic activities in their body.
Following is the classification of microorganisms on the basis of temperature:
1. Psychrophiles: This category involves those microscopic organisms that can sustain.life at quite low temperature. For example- Psychrobacter cryohalolentis
2. Mesophiles: This category involves those microscopic organisms that can sustain life at a moderate temperature range (25°C - 35°C) only. For example - Pseudomonas maltophilia
3. Thermophiles: This category involves those microscopic organisms that can sustain life at high temperature. For example - Chloroflexus aurantiacus
4. Hyperthermophiles: This category involves those microscopic organisms that can sustain life at a temperature range (80°C- 113℃) only. For example - Pyrolobus fumarii.
5. Psychrotrophs: This category involves those microscopic organisms that can sustain life at a temperature range (15°C- 20℃) only. For example - Pseudomonas.

Note:
Though the high temperature destroys the enzyme activity of microbes yet organisms like Hyperthermophiles can live at extremely high temperature because of distinct arrangement of molecules of proteins and fats that helps them in withstanding the high temperature and surviving.