Microscopic organisms in the Cumberland Plain Woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden include algae, bacteria and protozoans.
Most of these are soil inhabiting and involved in breakdown of dead plant and animal material and are important in recycling of organic matter. Some may cause disease. We know very little about the organisms involved.
Nostoc commune is a an alga that forms a jelly like growth on the soil surface during wet conditions (see title image).
Rhizobium species are bacteria that fix nitrogen in the roots of species of peas (Fabaceae).