Euryarchaeota

Definition

Euryarchaeota is a major phylum of Archaea characterized by a diverse range of metabolic strategies and habitats. They are known for including extremophiles such as methanogens and halophiles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Euryarchaeota includes methanogens, which produce methane as a metabolic byproduct in anoxic conditions.
2. Many Euryarchaeota species are extremophiles, thriving in environments with extreme salinity, pH, or temperatures.
3. They play a crucial role in the carbon cycle through the process of methanogenesis.
4. Halophilic Euryarchaeota can survive in environments with very high salt concentrations, such as salt flats and saline lakes.
5. Some members of the Euryarchaeota phylum are involved in bioremediation processes due to their ability to degrade pollutants.

Review Questions

• What types of extreme environments do Euryarchaeota typically inhabit?
• What is the primary metabolic byproduct produced by methanogenic Euryarchaeota?
• How do halophilic Euryarchaeota adapt to high-salinity environments?

Related terms

Archaea:

A domain of single-celled microorganisms that are distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes.

Methanogens:

Microorganisms within the Euryarchaeota that produce methane as a metabolic byproduct.

Extremophiles:

Organisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions such as high salinity, temperature, or acidity.