Cyanobacteria make a major contribution to world photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation, but are also notorious for causing nuisances such as dense and often toxic blooms' in lakes and the ocean. The Ecology of Cyanobacteria: Their Diversity in Time and Space is the first book to focus solely on ecological aspects of these organisms. Its twenty-two chapters are written by some thirty authors, who are leading experts in their particular subject.The book begins with an overview of the cyanobacteria - or blue-green algae, for those who are not specialists - then looks at their diversity in the geological record and goes on to describe their ecology in present environments where they play important roles. Why is one of the key groups of organisms in the Precambrian still one of the most important groups of phototrophs today? The importance of ecological information for rational management and exploitation of these organisms for commercial and other practical purposes is also assessed. Accounts are provided of nuisances as well as the ecology of the commercially successful Spirulina and the role of cyanobacteria in ecosystem recovery from oil pollution.Many chapters include aspects of physiology, biochemistry, geochemistry and molecular biology where these help general understanding of the subject. In addition there are three chapters dealing specifically with molecular ecology. Thirty-two pages of colour photos incorporate about seventy views and light micrographs. These features make the book valuable to a wide readership, including biologists, microbiologists, geologists, water managers and environmental consultants. The book complements the highly successful The Molecular Biology ofCyanobacteria already published by Kluwer.

Introduction to the cyanobacteria / Brian A. Whitton, Malcolm Potts — The fossil record: tracing the roots of the cyanobacterial lineage / J. William Schopf — Cyanobacteria in geothermal habitats / David M. Ward, Richard W. Castenholz — Cyanobacterial mats and stromatolites / Lucas J. Stal — Marine plankton / Hans W. Paerl — Freshwater blooms / Roderick L. Oliver, George G. Ganf — Picoplankton and other non-bloom forming cyanobacteria in lakes / John G. Stockner, Cristiana Callieri, Gertrud Cronberg — Soils and rice-fields / Brian A. Whitton — Limestones / Allan Pentecost, Brian A. Whitton — Salts and brines / Aharon Oren — Oil pollution and cyanobacteria / Samir S. Radwan, Redha H. Al-Hasan — Cyanobacterial dominance in the polar regions / Warwick F. Vincent — Cyanobacteria in deserts - life at the limit? / D.D. Wynn-Williams — Detecting the environment / Nicholas H. Mann — Molecular responses to environmental stress / Devaki Bhaya, Rakefet Schwarz, Arthur R. Grossman — Metal Metabolism and toxicity: repetitive DNA / Nigel J. Robinson, Julian C. Rutherford, Mathew R. Pocock, Jennifer S. Cavet — Nostoc / Malcolm Potts — Arthrospira (Spirulina): systematics and ecophysiology / Avigad Vonshak, Luisa Tomaselli — Symbiotic Interactions / David G. Adams — Cyanophages and their role in the ecology of cyanobacteria / Curtis A. Suttle — Cyanobacterial responses to UV-radiation / Richard W. Castenholz, Ferran Garcia-Pichel — Cyanotoxins / Crawford S. Dow, Uthaya K. Swoboda.