Disaster when bacteria disappear from Earth

Microorganisms play an extremely important role in promoting the evolution of animals and transforming the human world.

According to the book "I Contain Multitudes" published in early 2016, author Ed Yong mentioned the scenario that all microorganisms on this planet suddenly disappeared. The positive side of the scenario is that all infectious diseases no longer exist and many harmful insects will disappear. However, these benefits are too small compared to the consequences that the world suffers.

Herbivorous mammals such as cows, sheep, antelopes and deer will starve because their digestive system is completely dependent on gut bacteria to neutralize fiber in plants. Because the termites' digestive system also depends on similar microorganisms, they will disappear, dragging the termite-eating animals or relying on extinct termites.

Petri dishes contain Escherichia coli bacteria (E.coli) at the US Food, Veterinary and Environmental Safety Institute.(Photo: Reuters / Ints Kalnins).

Aphids, cicadas, and other plant-sucking beetles fall into extinction because there are no bacteria to supplement the missing nutrients for them. Under the ocean, many worms, shellfish and other animals also eat bacteria to produce energy. Without bacteria, they will die, leading to the entire food network in the deep sea layer collapsing.

Corals, which depend on microalgae and many other bacteria, will weaken and become more vulnerable. Large coral reefs will lose their color and fade away. Finally, all ecosystems that depend on them die as well.

Influences from the disappearance of microorganisms on humans are not as noticeable as other animals. People can still survive for weeks, months or even years. However, humanity will face many urgent health problems.

First, man-made wastes will quickly pile up due to no decomposing bacteria. Like all mammals that eat other grasses, poultry raised by humans cannot survive. Crops also gradually disappear because no nitrogen-supplying bacteria and Earth will experience a period of severe greening.

"We anticipate the complete collapse of society will happen within a year because the food supply chain is completely broken," Business Insider quoted two microbiologists Jack Gilbert and Josh Neufeld. "Most species on Earth will become extinct and the population of surviving species will decline sharply."