Question

What are three contributions that amoebas (Proteus animalcule) could make to the environment? Thanks!

Answer 1

They're generally predators, as far as I know, so I suppose they'd affect the environment by eating up their prey. Some of them eat brains too! Human brains!

One more thing: not sure if this counts as a contribution to the environment (since it has to do with fossil forms), but look up Foraminifera and their importance to the oil industry.

Answer 2

Ew! Do they happen to help by feeding on decaying matter as well? That's what I've gathered somewhat from the articles I've read.

Answer 3

Probably. I think some species eat bacteria too. I don't know a huge amount about amoebas, though. Mainly that one or two species eat brains. Ever seen a picture of the damage they can do?

Answer 4

No it sounds really gross though! Where do the brain-eating type of amoeba live??

Answer 5

Also, did you see any other species that belong to the tubulinea phylum? I cannot find any other species from this phylum!!

Answer 6

Apparently brain eating amoeba are very rare and can only get to your brain if you put your head under water

Answer 7

The brain eating amoeba isn't rare, per se, but it's rare to get it in your brain. It's usually just a harmless amoeba that lives in freshwater lakes, but when the water's warm, it can transform into a more dangerous form and go up your nose when you swim and eat your brain. There have been a few other cases in the US of people getting it by using those weird nose cleaning things with tap water: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/12/19/brain-eating-amoeba-fatalities-linked-to-common-cold-remedy/

I don't know much about Tubulinea. Judging by the Wikipedia article, it's just a big taxonomic grouping that includes many of the most well-known amoeba species (e.g. Amoeba proteus and the genus Chaos).

Answer 8

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/17/amoeba.kids.deaths/index.html
it's common during the summer time. this is really sad now I'm going to be careful about rivers and lakes here in Florida!
Also, I have amoeba proteus down but I will use genus Chaos. So maybe the way to go in looking for species in this phylum by searching for it relatively if that makes sense?

Answer 9

Just pick one of the Chaos species if you need a specific example. Wikipedia will help. And if you look at the Wikipedia article for Tubulinea, you'll see other taxa inside the phylum... and then if you click on those various taxa (e.g. Amoebidae), you'll see lists of genera and then species.

Oh yeah, and those brain-eating amoebas live in the soil too! But you really don't need to worry. Infections are incredibly rare.

Answer 10

Thanks so much!