DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2707-1146/64/58-66
The Role of Microorganisms in Ecosystems and the Maintenance of Ecosystem Stability
Hijran Samadli 
Abstract. Microorganisms are fundamental to ecosystem functioning and stability across terrestrial, aquatic, atmospheric, and host-associated systems. They act as ecosystem engineers by stabilizing sediments through biofilm formation and extracellular polymeric substances, enhancing structural integrity and regulating nutrient cycling. Airborne microbial communities further illustrate ecological adaptability, influencing atmospheric processes and contributing to environmental connectivity. Technological advancements have harnessed microbial communities for environmental management, including bioremediation, bioaugmentation, and wastewater treatment, supporting ecosystem resilience and sustainable resource management. In host-associated ecosystems, such as the human gastrointestinal tract, microbial diversity maintains homeostasis, supports immune function, and provides resilience against environmental or physiological disturbances. Early-life colonization, dietary changes, and hormonal influences shape microbial community dynamics, emphasizing the role of microbiomes in health and ecosystem-like stability within hosts. Anthropogenic pressures, particularly excessive antibiotic use, threaten microbial diversity, disrupt community balance, and reduce ecosystem resilience. Maintaining microbial diversity and understanding microbial ecosystem dynamics are essential for ecological sustainability, human health, and environmental management. Integrating ecological knowledge with molecular and biotechnological approaches provides a pathway to monitor, predict, and enhance ecosystem stability. Microorganisms, through their metabolic diversity and adaptive capacity, play a vital role in sustaining ecosystem integrity, regulating biogeochemical cycles, and maintaining functional resilience in the face of environmental change. Protecting microbial ecosystems is therefore crucial for long-term ecological balance and environmental sustainability.
Keywords: microorganisms, ecosystem stability, microbiome, environmental management, biofilms