Micro-organisms and Earth Systems

Overview of geomicrobiology; the role microorganisms have played and are playing in geologic processes.

Geoff Gadd (Edited by), Kirk Semple (Edited by), Hilary Lappin-Scott (Author)

9780521862226, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 October 2005

388 pages, 79 b/w illus. 16 tables
23.5 x 15.3 x 2.2 cm, 0.75 kg

'This book constitutes a milestone in the emerging field of biogeosciences and will interest not only microbial ecologists and geomicrobiologists, but also all scientists working with a multidisciplinary perspective and approach to understand the Earth's biogeosystem.' Microbiology Today

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.

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.

Subject Areas: Earth sciences [RB], Microbiology [non-medical PSG]