Beneficial effects

Microbes are everywhere in the biosphere and their presence invariably affects the environment in which they are growing in. Beneficial effects of microorganisms on their environment can be beneficial or inapparent with regard to human measure or observation. Beneficial effects of microbes derive from their metabolic activities in the environment, their related with animals and plants, and from their use in food production and biotechnological procedure.

Excavates and chromalveolates can have internal symbionts that can be prokaryotes or other protists. Photosynthetic symbionts provide photosynthate or other factors for the heterotrophic protistan partner. Bacterial endosymbionts can provide vital cell metabolites. Ectosymbiotic prokaryotes may provide protista with motility or alternative electron acceptors. Some species are important within gut and rumen microflora of large animals, as part of a complex cellulolytic community.