Wildlife of Proto-Town/Microbial life
Wildlife guide: Overview · Plants · Fungi · Animals · Birds · Bugs · Microbial life
Microorganisms cannot normally be identified by sight in the field. This page describes notable ecological groups and exposure contexts rather than claiming that a particular puddle, soil sample, animal, or bloom contains a named organism. Laboratory testing is required for confirmation.
Bacillus thuringiensis
| Bacillus thuringiensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Soil bacterium |
| Scientific name | Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Texan regional name | Bt |
| Origin | Naturally occurring; products may use cultivated strains |
| Conservation status | Not applicable |
| Ecological or economic value | BENEFICIAL Selected strains provide targeted biological control of mosquito and caterpillar larvae with agricultural and public-health value. |
| Hazard | No special hazard label |
Bacillus thuringiensis, usually abbreviated Bt, is a spore-forming soil bacterium whose proteins kill particular groups of insect larvae. Carefully selected strains are used in biological pest-control products, including mosquito larvicides and caterpillar controls. A Bt product’s label identifies its target and safe use; the name does not mean every formulation works against every insect.
| Root-nodule bacteria | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Symbiotic soil bacteria |
| Scientific name | Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and related genera |
| Texan regional name | Rhizobia; nitrogen-fixing bacteria |
| Origin | Native and introduced strains occur |
| Conservation status | Not applicable |
| Ecological or economic value | BENEFICIAL Fix atmospheric nitrogen in partnership with legumes, improving prairie and garden soil fertility. |
| Hazard | No special hazard label |
These bacteria form nodules on the roots of legumes such as clovers, beans, mesquites, and bluebonnets. Inside a compatible nodule they convert atmospheric nitrogen into compounds the plant can use, enriching prairie and garden soils. Healthy active nodules are often pink inside because of the oxygen-binding pigment leghemoglobin.
Nostoc commune
| Nostoc commune | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Cyanobacterium |
| Scientific name | Nostoc commune |
| Texan regional name | Star jelly; mare’s eggs; blue-green algae |
| Origin | Native or cosmopolitan |
| Conservation status | Not applicable |
| Ecological or economic value | BENEFICIAL Photosynthesizes and fixes atmospheric nitrogen, contributing to soil-surface nutrient cycling where it naturally occurs. |
| Hazard | NUISANCE / USE CARE Slippery when wet and not suitable for casual consumption; visible identification does not rule out contamination by other organisms. |
Nostoc commune forms dark olive or nearly black gelatinous colonies on soil, gravel, and pavement after rain. During dry weather it contracts into a thin brittle film and can rehydrate quickly. Like other cyanobacteria, it photosynthesizes and can fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Encounter guidance: Treat slick patches as a fall hazard. Routine removal can be done mechanically where traction matters; avoid assuming that any unknown gelatinous growth is safe to eat or handle extensively.
Microcystis and harmful cyanobacterial blooms
| Microcystis and harmful blooms | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Cyanobacterium; bloom-forming microbe |
| Scientific name | Microcystis aeruginosa and other toxin-producing cyanobacteria |
| Texan regional name | Blue-green algae; harmful algal bloom |
| Origin | Native or cosmopolitan |
| Conservation status | Not applicable
|
| Hazard | CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED Some blooms make toxins that can cause serious illness; contaminated water can rapidly kill dogs and livestock. Appearance alone cannot determine whether toxins are present. |
Warm, slow-moving, nutrient-rich water can support dense cyanobacterial growth that resembles green paint, pea soup, foam, mats, or scum and may smell unpleasant. Not every bloom is toxic, but visual inspection cannot establish safety.
Encounter guidance: Keep people and animals out of discolored, scummy, or foul-smelling water and do not let pets drink or lick material from the shore. Follow public-health advisories and contact a veterinarian immediately if an animal becomes ill after exposure.
Clostridium tetani
| Clostridium tetani | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Spore-forming soil bacterium |
| Scientific name | Clostridium tetani |
| Texan regional name | Tetanus bacterium |
| Origin | Naturally occurring worldwide |
| Conservation status | Not applicable
|
| Hazard | CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED Spores introduced into a wound can produce tetanus toxin, causing life-threatening muscle rigidity and spasms. |
C. tetani spores occur in soil, dust, and animal feces and can persist for long periods. Tetanus is associated with contaminated punctures and other wounds, not with rust itself and not with ordinary proximity to soil. Vaccination is the primary protection.
Encounter guidance: Clean wounds promptly. Seek medical guidance for deep, dirty, puncture, crush, burn, or animal-contaminated wounds and whenever tetanus vaccination status is uncertain; symptoms require emergency care.
Leptospira interrogans
| Leptospira interrogans | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Spirochete bacterium |
| Scientific name | Leptospira interrogans |
| Texan regional name | Leptospira; cause of leptospirosis |
| Origin | Naturally maintained in animal hosts |
| Conservation status | Not applicable
|
| Hazard | CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED Contaminated animal urine, soil, or water can transmit leptospirosis through the eyes, mouth, or broken skin; severe disease can damage the kidneys, liver, lungs, or brain and can be fatal. |
Many wild and domestic mammals can shed leptospires in urine without appearing sick. Risk rises with floodwater, warm stagnant water, animal facilities, and wet work where skin is cut or abraded. The organism cannot be detected by looking at water.
Encounter guidance: Use waterproof protection for wet or animal-contaminated work and cover cuts. Wash after exposure and seek prompt medical care for fever, severe headache, muscle pain, red eyes, jaundice, or illness following a plausible exposure.
Naegleria fowleri
| Naegleria fowleri | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Type | Free-living ameba |
| Scientific name | Naegleria fowleri |
| Texan regional name | Often called the “brain-eating ameba” |
| Origin | Naturally occurring in warm freshwater and soil |
| Conservation status | Not applicable
|
| Hazard | CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED Water forced up the nose can very rarely lead to primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a rapidly progressing and usually fatal brain infection. Swallowing water is not the usual route. |
N. fowleri thrives in warm freshwater such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and hot springs and can occur in inadequately disinfected recreational water. Cases are extremely rare, but Texas has reported more cases than any other state in CDC’s historical surveillance.
Encounter guidance: Reduce nasal exposure in warm freshwater by avoiding forceful submersion or using a nose clip. Use only distilled, sterile, or properly boiled and cooled water for sinus rinsing; severe headache, fever, vomiting, or stiff neck after a relevant exposure requires immediate emergency care.
Trypanosoma cruzi
| Trypanosoma cruzi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Single-celled parasite |
| Scientific name | Trypanosoma cruzi |
| Texan regional name | Chagas parasite |
| Origin | Native transmission cycle in the southern United States |
| Conservation status | Not applicable
|
| Hazard | CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED Causes Chagas disease, which may later damage the heart or digestive system and can be fatal. Local transmission is uncommon but possible. |
T. cruzi circulates among kissing bugs and mammal hosts including raccoons, opossums, armadillos, skunks, coyotes, and dogs. Infection usually occurs when feces from an infected bug enter a bite, the eye, or broken skin rather than directly through the bug’s feeding puncture.
Encounter guidance: Avoid bare-handed contact with kissing bugs or their feces, seal indoor entry points, and consult a clinician or veterinarian about a credible exposure. Routine presence of a wild mammal does not establish that it is infected.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
| Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Enteric bacterium |
| Scientific name | Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including O157:H7 |
| Texan regional name | STEC; pathogenic E. coli |
| Origin | Animal-associated strains occur worldwide |
| Conservation status | Not applicable
|
| Hazard | CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED Ingestion can cause severe bloody diarrhea and, particularly in children, life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome. |
Most strains of E. coli are harmless members of animal intestines, but STEC strains can contaminate hands, produce, food, surfaces, and water through feces. Livestock and wildlife may carry them without appearing ill, so hygiene matters around manure, pens, raw foods, and untreated water.
Encounter guidance: Wash hands after animal or soil contact, separate raw foods, and do not drink untreated surface water. Bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or illness after a known exposure warrants prompt medical care.