Adapting to the Changing Environment: Microbial Way of Life

Microorganisms are always faced with an ever-changing environment within their natural habitats both in planktonic form and/or microbial communities. Common of these changes include nutrient inadequacy, pH, temperature, osmolarity variations, radiation, heavy quantity superoxides and heavy metals. Different forms are considered when studying microbial adaptation to extreme conditions. Some specific metabolisms are equally vital for the survival of these microbes in such conditions although there is no general agreement to say that an environment is extreme for all organisms or microorganisms. This is because an environment considered extreme for an organism may be favourable for other organisms. However, due to some changes in the physicochemical conditions which have occurred from time to time in our environment, this said normal environment for some organisms has equally undergone some changes. We, therefore, tried to explore what could be considered as environmental changes and extreme environment, associated physicochemical factors and adaptation of microorganisms in these environments at their different levels of existence.