Synopses & Reviews
There is growing awareness that important environmental transformations are catalysed, mediated and influenced by microorganisms, and geomicrobiology can be defined as the influence of microorganisms on geologic processes. This is probably the most rapidly growing area of microbiology at present, combining environmental and molecular microbiology together with significant areas of mineralogy, geochemistry and hydrology. This volume focuses on the function of microorganisms in the environment and their influence on 'global' processes. It will include state-of-the art approaches to visualisation, culture and identification, community interactions and gene transfer, and diversity studies in relation to key processes. This overview for researchers and graduate students will represent environmental microbiology in its broadest sense and help to promote exciting collaborations between microbiologists and those in complementary physical and chemical disciplines.
Synopsis
Geomicrobiology can be defined as the influence of microorganisms on geologic processes and is probably the most rapidly growing area of microbiology, combining environmental and molecular microbiology together with significant areas of mineralogy, geochemistry and hydrology. This volume provides an overview of the subject for graduate students and researchers.
Table of Contents
Preface; 1. Isotopic-labelling methods for deciphering the function of uncultured micro-organisms M. Wagner and M. W. Taylor; 2. Biofilms and metal geochemistry: the relevance of micro-organism-induced geochemical transformations L. A. Warren; 3. Minerals, mats, pearls and veils: themes and variations in giant sulfur bacteria N. D. Gray and I. M. Head; 4. Soil micro-organisms in Antarctic dry valleys: resource supply and utilization D. W. Hopkins, B. Elberling, L. G. Greenfield, E. G. Gregorich, P. Novis, A. G. O'Donnell and A. D. Sparrow; 5. New insights into bacterial cell-wall structure and physico-chemistry: implications for interactions with metal ions and minerals V. R. Phoenix, A. A. Korenevsky, V. R. F. Matias and T. J. Beveridge; 6. Horizontal gene transfer of metal homeostasis genes and its role in microbial communities of the deep terrestrial subsurfaces J. Coombs and T. Barkay; 7. Biosilicification: the role of cyanobacteria in silico sinter deposition L. G. Benning, V. Phoenix and B. W. Mountain; 8. Metabolic diversity in the microbial world: relevance to exobiology K. H. Nealson and R. Popa; 9. Biogeochemical cycling in polar, temperate and tropical coastal zones: similarities and differences D. B. Nedwell; 10. Fungal roles and function in rock, mineral and soil transformations G. M. Gadd, M. Fomina and E. P. Burford; 11. The deep intraterrestrial biosphere K. Pedersen; 12. Iron, nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc cycling and consequences for primary productivity in the oceans J. A. Raven, K. Brown, M. Mackay, J. Beardall, M. Giordano, E. Granum, R. C. Leegood, K. Kilminster and D. I. Walker; 13. Mechanisms and environmental impact of microbial metal reduction J. R. Lloyd; 14. New insights into the physiology and regulation of the anaerobic oxidation of methane M. Krüger and T. Treude; 15. Biogeochemical roles of fungi in marine and estuarine habitats N. Clipson, E. Landy and M. Otte; 16. Role of micro-organisms in karstification P. C. Bennett and A. S. Engel.