Economic Importance of Protozoa | Zoology

The protozoa are acellular, microscopic organisms found everywhere, in water; soil, on the body of plants and animals. Although they are minute and apparently insignificant, but they are of considerable economic value to the mankind.

The activities of these organisms can be divided the following two heads:

1. Beneficial Protozoa.

2. Harmful Protozoa.

1. Beneficial Protozoa:

The protozoa are useful in the following ways:

i. Food:

Protozoa provide food for insect larvae, crustaceans and worms, which are taken by large animals like fishes, lobsters, clams, and crabs, which are eaten by man. Thus they form sources of food supply to man both directly and indirectly.

ii. Symbiotic Protozoa:

Certain protozoa like Trichonympha and Colonymphya etc. live in the gut of termite, which help in the digestion of cellulose. The digested cellulose is utilized by the host.

iii. Insect Control:

Several protozoa control harmful insects by persisting their bodies.

iv. Helpful in Sanitation:

A large number of protozoa living in polluted water feed upon waste organic matters and thus purify it. Many protozoa feed upon bacteria and play important role in the sanitary betterment and keeping water safe for drinking.