Their World: A Diversity of Microbial Environments

This volume summarizes recent advances in environmental microbiology by providing fascinating insights into the diversity of microbial life that exists on our planet. The first two chapters present theoretical perspectives that help to consolidate our understanding of evolution as an adaptive proces...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
Other Authors: Hurst, Christon J. (Editor)
Format: Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2016.
Series:Advances in environmental microbiology ; 1.
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Online Access:Full text (Wentworth users only)
Description
Summary:This volume summarizes recent advances in environmental microbiology by providing fascinating insights into the diversity of microbial life that exists on our planet. The first two chapters present theoretical perspectives that help to consolidate our understanding of evolution as an adaptive process by which the niche and habitat of each species develop in a manner that interconnects individual components of an ecosystem. This results in communities that function by simultaneously coordinating their metabolic and physiologic actions. The third contribution addresses the fossil record of microorganisms, and the subsequent chapters then introduce the microbial life that currently exists in various terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Coverage of the geosphere addresses endolithic organisms, life in caves and the deep continental biosphere, including how subsurface microbial life may impact spent nuclear fuel repositories. The discussion of the hydrosphere includes hypersaline environments and arctic food chains. By better understanding examples from the micro biosphere, we can elucidate the many ways in which the niches of different species, both large and small, interconnect within the overlapping habitats of this world, which is governed by its microorganisms.
Physical Description:XV, 381 pages 63 illustrations, 36 illustrations in color : online resource.
ISBN:9783319280714
ISSN:2366-3324 ;
DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-28071-4