Thermus aquaticus is a type of bacteria that can withstand extreme temperatures. Bacteria have many different shapes, such as rods, spheres, and spirals. Bacteria is so small that there are typically 40 million bacteria cells in a gram of soil and a million bacterial cells in a milliliter of fresh water. In Hot Springs, the bacteria live in the water of the springs and out of it. Thermus Aquaticus is one of the only species of bacteria that can withstand hot temperatures without dying. This type of bacteria is unique to the park because it isn't found in many other parks because of the temperature of the water. This species is important because bacteria is crucial in any place. The ecosystem largely depends upon the activity of bacteria to maintain balance and thrive.
Protist: Sarcomastigophora
Sarcomastigophora is a type of protists. Protists are single-celled organisms. The term "protista" was first used by Ernst Haeckel in 1886. Sarcamastigophora is polpyhletic, and it is not universally recognized classification. It is divided into three subphyla: the Mastigophora, the Sarcodina, and the Opalinata. Sarcomastigophora is unique to Hot Springs because like Thermus aquaticus, it can withstand high temperatures which is crucial for protists in Hot Springs. Protists are important to overall health of Hot Springs because they take energy from the sun and convert it to energy. Sarcomastigophora is crucial to Hot Springs because it consumes the bacteria throughout the park and without it, there would be too much bacteria in the park for it to be able to properly function.
Fungi: Gasteromycetes
Gasteromycetes is a type of fungi found in Hot Springs National Park and in Arkansas. They are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota. This type of fungi in Hot Springs have adapted to arid and damp climates, depending where they are in the park. This type of fungi is unique to Hot Springs National Park becuase they are common in Arkansas. This species is important to the overall health of the park because fungi provide most of the decompisition. Gasteromycetes can break down almost anything so the park functions better. Gasteromycetes and other types of fungi are mycorrhizal partners in trees and plants.