Microbial Diversity In Time And Space

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Microbial Diversity in Time and Space

Author : R.R. Colwell
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 0585340463
Total Pages : 164 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (853 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbial Diversity in Time and Space by : R.R. Colwell

Download or read book Microbial Diversity in Time and Space written by R.R. Colwell and published by Springer. This book was released on 2007-08-20 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The symposium, "Microbial Diversity in Time and Space," was held in the Sanjo Conference Hall, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, October 24-26, 1994. The symposium was organized under the auspices of the Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology and co-sponsored by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), International Committee on Microbial Ecology (ICOME), and the Japanese Society of Ecology. The aim of the symposium was to stress the importance of the global role of microorganisms in developing and maintaining biodiversity. Twenty-four speakers from seven countries presented papers in the symposium and in the workshop, "Microbial Diversity and Cycling of Bioelements," that followed the symposium. Papers presented at the symposium are published in this proceedings. Discussions of the workshop, which were energetic and enthusiastic, are also summarized in this proceedings. The symposium provided an opportunity to address the role of microorganisms in global cycles and as the basic support ofbiodiversity on the planet. Previously unrecognized as both contributing to and sustaining biodiversity, microorganisms are now considered to be primary elements of, and a driving force in, biodiversity. Financial support was provided for the symposium by the CIBA GEIGY Foundation for the Promotion of Science, Naito Foundation, and the Uchida Foundation of the Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo. Support from these foundations is gratefully acknowledged. CONTENTS Microbial Biodiversity-Global Aspects ................................. 1 Rita R. Colwell 2. Importance of Community Relationships in Biodiversity ...................

Accessing Uncultivated Microorganisms

Author : Karsten Zengler
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781555814069
Total Pages : 332 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (14 download)

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Book Synopsis Accessing Uncultivated Microorganisms by : Karsten Zengler

Download or read book Accessing Uncultivated Microorganisms written by Karsten Zengler and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a comprehensive overview and discussing developments in the field, this book details various innovative methods used in microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. It also includes all aspects of microbial diversity from bacteria and fungi to protists.

Microbial Diversity Through Space and Time

Author : Nathan I. Wisnoski
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 178 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (417 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbial Diversity Through Space and Time by : Nathan I. Wisnoski

Download or read book Microbial Diversity Through Space and Time written by Nathan I. Wisnoski and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microorganisms are the most diverse organisms on the planet. Understanding the processes by which they are assembled into communities across space and time is a primary goal of microbial ecology. I employed empirical and simulation studies to investigate the effects of dispersal and dormancy on patterns of microbial biodiversity. Microorganisms are thought to have high rates of dispersal, linking communities across space to form a metacommunity. In Chapter 1, I investigated the importance of local- versus regional-scale processes for the assembly of planktonic and sediment-associated bacterial communities in a stream network. Using phylogenetic and taxonomic null models, I found habitat-specific spatial patterns of community assembly in the network, demonstrating the potentially overlooked importance of vertical habitat structure for microbial diversity in stream metacommunities. In Chapter 2, I investigated the roles of biotic interactions and dormancy for the maintenance of microbial biodiversity in University Lake, Indiana, USA. By comparing metabolically active and total diversity in a high-resolution time series, I found evidence that stabilizing biotic interactions allow taxa to persist at the local scale, aided by a dormant seed bank. In Chapter 3, I synthesized the roles of dispersal and dormancy in metacommunity ecology by analyzing empirical data and simulation models. In Chapter 4, I tested predictions about the effects of dormancy and dispersal in University Lake. Dispersal from the neighboring terrestrial ecosystem influenced diversity near the terrestrial-aquatic interface. However, most terrestrial-derived bacteria were apparently dormant, with only a few taxa reaching high abundances in the metabolically active portion of the aquatic community. Taken together, this dissertation provides empirical demonstrations of how dispersal and dormancy affect microbial communities in nature. More broadly, it develops novel insights into the roles of dispersal and dormancy in metacommunities.

The Spatial Distribution of Microbes in the Environment

Author : Rima Franklin
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1402062168
Total Pages : 339 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis The Spatial Distribution of Microbes in the Environment by : Rima Franklin

Download or read book The Spatial Distribution of Microbes in the Environment written by Rima Franklin and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-09-04 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume highlights recent advances that have contributed to our understanding of spatial patterns and scale issues in microbial ecology. The book brings together research conducted at a range of spatial scales (from μm to km) and in a variety of different types of environments. These topics are addressed in a quantitative manner, and a primer on statistical methods is included. In soil ecosystems, both bacteria and fungi are discussed.

Microbial Communities

Author : Heribert Insam
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642606946
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (426 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbial Communities by : Heribert Insam

Download or read book Microbial Communities written by Heribert Insam and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-06-29 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research on decomposer communities of terrestrial ecosystems for a long time has focussed on microbial biomass and gross turnover parameters. Recently, more and more attempts are made to look beyond the biomass, and more specifically determine functions and populations on a smaller scale-in time and space. A multitude of techniques is being improved and developed. Garland and Mills (1991) triggered a series of publications on substrate utilization tests in the field of microbial ecology. Despite several promising results for different applications in different laboratories, many problems concerning the assay and the interpretation of results became evident. After individual discussions on the approach with colleagues from various laboratories we started to plan a workshop on the matter. The response on our first circular was extraordinary, and instead of a small workshop it became a meeting with almost 150 participants. The meeting was named 'Substrate use for characterization of microbial communities in terrestrial ecosystems' (SUBMECO) and was held in Innsbruck, Austria, from Oct. 16-18, 1996. The very focussed scope attracted enthusiastic advocates of the approach, and also serious critics. Some of the topics concerned improvements of current inoculation and incubation techniques, ranging from sample pre-treatment, inoculum density and incubation temperature to statistical data handling. New methods for calculating microbial diversity were proposed, as well as bootstrap methods that allow statistics with many variables on a relatively low number of replicates.

Microbial Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Fragmented Rivers Worldwide

Author : Lunhui Lu
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2832539874
Total Pages : 188 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (325 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbial Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Fragmented Rivers Worldwide by : Lunhui Lu

Download or read book Microbial Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Fragmented Rivers Worldwide written by Lunhui Lu and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2023-11-27 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dams or barriers are among the most significant anthropogenic threats to global freshwater ecosystems, although they provide invaluable services for shipping, hydropower generation, flood protection, and storage of drinking and irrigation water. River fragmentations due to dams and barriers lead the aquatic landscape into isolated river sections, resulting in hydromorphological discontinuities along longitudinal or lateral gradients. Fragmented river habitats are unstable. They experience uncertain disturbances in both time and space with random and complex hydrological and environmental processes, such as water flow, particulate matter sedimentation, reservoir regulation, and terrestrial input. The diversity, composition, functionality, and activity of microbial communities are important indicators of river ecosystem functions and services. Yet, river fragmentations are likely to disrupt and reconstruct microbial communities, redirecting the patterns of biogeochemical cycles of biogenic elements. Methodology, such as mathematical models, is still limited to describing and elucidating microbial processes under changing hydrological environments in the fragmented rivers. Thus, how do the riverine microbial communities and ecosystem functions respond to the fragmentation in rivers? This Research Topic represents a collective focus on microbial ecology, functional diversity, and new microbial modeling in fragmented rivers. We wish to present new findings in community assembly mechanisms, biotic interactions, functional diversity, and ecosystem functioning responses to the river fragmentations. New perspectives will also provide us with deep insights into the ecological effects of river fragmentation. This Research Topic aims to present the original research articles and reviews to provide new findings on microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning in fragmented rivers worldwide. We welcome original research, reviews, mini-reviews, opinions, methods, hypotheses and theories, and perspectives. The directions include but are not limited to the following aspects: - The continuum of the microbial community in responses to dams or barriers. - Novel microbial community assembly mechanisms, functional traits, and biotic interactions in fragmented rivers at local, regional, and global scales. - Functional genes, functional groups, and functional diversity in driving biogenic element cycles. - Mathematical modeling in aquatic microbial ecology.

Microbial Carbonates in Space and Time:

Author : D.W.J. Bosence
Publisher : Geological Society of London
ISBN 13 : 1862397279
Total Pages : 310 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (623 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbial Carbonates in Space and Time: by : D.W.J. Bosence

Download or read book Microbial Carbonates in Space and Time: written by D.W.J. Bosence and published by Geological Society of London. This book was released on 2015-08-21 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microbial carbonates (microbialites) are remarkable sedimentary deposits because they have the longest geological range of any type of biogenic limestones, they form in the greatest range of different sedimentary environments, they oxygenated the Earth’s atmosphere, and they produce and store large volumes of hydrocarbons. This Special Publication provides significant contributions at a pivotal time in our understanding of microbial carbonates, when their economic importance has become established and the results of many research programmes are coming to fruition. It is the first book to focus on the economic aspects of microbialites and in particular the giant pre-salt discoveries offshore Brazil. In addition it contains papers on the processes involved in formation of both modern and ancient microbialites and the diversity of style in microbial carbonate buildups, structures and fabrics in both marine and non-marine settings and throughout the geological record.

Space, Time and Change: Investigations of Soil Bacterial Diversity and Its Drivers in the Mongolian Steppe

Author : Aurora A. MacRae-Crerar
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 312 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (969 download)

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Book Synopsis Space, Time and Change: Investigations of Soil Bacterial Diversity and Its Drivers in the Mongolian Steppe by : Aurora A. MacRae-Crerar

Download or read book Space, Time and Change: Investigations of Soil Bacterial Diversity and Its Drivers in the Mongolian Steppe written by Aurora A. MacRae-Crerar and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microorganisms are the most diverse life forms on Earth and are the foundation of any ecosystem. As estimates of microbial diversity rapidly increase with advances in sequencing technologies, so does the need to identify the drivers of such overwhelming diversity. This is particularly true in soil—the most biodiverse habitat on the planet and the key component of terrestrial ecosystems, which are being altered by changes in climate and land use. In order to understand the potential consequences of these changes, we conducted a multi-year experiment to test the effects of global change on soil bacterial communities in northern Mongolia, a region where air temperatures have increased by 1.7 °C since 1960, and traditional land-use patterns are shifting with socio-economic changes. Set in the semi-arid steppe, our global change experiment allowed as to evaluate responses to multiple stressors at once over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Over the course of three years, we investigated soil bacterial diversity at two positions (upper and lower) along a south-facing slope and documented the response of these communities to three experimental treatments: a Watering experiment (upper slope only), a Grazing experiment (lower slope only) and a Climate Manipulation experiment (both slopes). We measured diversity using both the number and abundance of distinct bacterial taxa in a soil sample and then correlated these findings with corresponding measurements of biotic and abiotic factors, which included plant richness and biomass, as well as plant available N, pH, soil moisture and soil temperature. We found that temporal and spatial factors explained much of the variation in the bacterial communities. After accounting for temporal and spatial variation, soil moisture content was the primary driver structuring bacterial diversity across the landscape and within experimental treatments. In particular, the effects of climate change on these semi-arid grasslands may act primarily through soil moisture content. Concomitant shifts in key members of the bacterial community may ultimately be bioindicators of a drier future for Mongolia.

Microbial Diversity

Author : Oladele Ogunseitan
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1405144483
Total Pages : 312 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (51 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbial Diversity by : Oladele Ogunseitan

Download or read book Microbial Diversity written by Oladele Ogunseitan and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-15 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers the first comprehensive, in-depth treatment of microbial diversity for undergraduate and graduate students. Using a global approach, Microbial Diversity illustrates the impact of microorganisms on ecological and Earth system phenomena. Accompanied by a devoted website with resources for both instructors and students: www.blackwellpublishing.com/ogunseitan Uses key ecological and global phenomena to show the continuity of microbial contribution. Illustrates the importance of microbial diversity for the understanding of global physiochemical and biological processes. Presents analyses of microscopic, culture, molecular, and phylogenetic systematic methods. Shows the relevance of microbial diversity to global environmental problems, such as climate change and ozone depletion. Features numerous illustrations, including over 60 4-color photographs of microbes.

Modern Soil Microbiology, Second Edition

Author : Jan Dirk van Elsas
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 9780824727499
Total Pages : 704 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (274 download)

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Book Synopsis Modern Soil Microbiology, Second Edition by : Jan Dirk van Elsas

Download or read book Modern Soil Microbiology, Second Edition written by Jan Dirk van Elsas and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2006-12-21 with total page 704 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the ten years since the publication of Modern Soil Microbiology, the study of soil microbiology has significantly changed, both in the understanding of the diversity and function of soil microbial communities and in research methods. Ideal for students in a variety of disciplines, this second edition provides a cutting-edge examination of a fascinating discipline that encompasses ecology, physiology, genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology, and makes use of biochemical and biophysical approaches. The chapters cover topics ranging from the fundamental to the applied and describe the use of advanced methods that have provided a great thrust to the discipline of soil microbiology. Using the latest molecular analyses, they integrate principles of soil microbiology with novel insights into the physiology of soil microorganisms. The authors discuss the soil and rhizosphere as habitats for microorganisms, then go on to describe the different microbial groups, their adaptive responses, and their respective processes in interactive and functional terms. The book highlights a range of applied aspects of soil microbiology, including the nature of disease-suppressive soils, the use of biological control agents, biopesticides and bioremediation agents, and the need for correct statistics and experimentation in the analyses of the data obtained from soil systems.

The Ecology of Cyanobacteria

Author : B.A. Whitton
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 0306468557
Total Pages : 718 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (64 download)

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Book Synopsis The Ecology of Cyanobacteria by : B.A. Whitton

Download or read book The Ecology of Cyanobacteria written by B.A. Whitton and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-05-08 with total page 718 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 of Cyanobacteria already published by Kluwer.

(Acido)bacterial Diversity in Space and Time

Author : Tim Richter-Heitmann
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (967 download)

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Book Synopsis (Acido)bacterial Diversity in Space and Time by : Tim Richter-Heitmann

Download or read book (Acido)bacterial Diversity in Space and Time written by Tim Richter-Heitmann and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Ecology of Cyanobacteria II

Author : Brian A. Whitton
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9400738552
Total Pages : 753 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (7 download)

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Book Synopsis Ecology of Cyanobacteria II by : Brian A. Whitton

Download or read book Ecology of Cyanobacteria II written by Brian A. Whitton and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-07-05 with total page 753 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cyanobacteria have existed for 3.5 billion years, yet they are still the most important photosynthetic organisms on the planet for cycling carbon and nitrogen. The ecosystems where they have key roles range from the warmer oceans to many Antarctic sites. They also include dense nuisance growths in nutrient-rich lakes and nitrogen-fixers which aid the fertility of rice-fields and many soils, especially the biological soil crusts of arid regions. Molecular biology has in recent years provided major advances in our understanding of cyanobacterial ecology. Perhaps for more than any other group of organisms, it is possible to see how the ecology, physiology, biochemistry, ultrastructure and molecular biology interact. This all helps to deal with practical problems such as the control of nuisance blooms and the use of cyanobacterial inocula to manage semi-desert soils. Large-scale culture of several organisms, especially "Spirulina" (Arthrospira), for health food and specialist products is increasingly being expanded for a much wider range of uses. In view of their probable contribution to past oil deposits, much attention is currently focused on their potential as a source of biofuel. Please visit http://extras.springer.com/ to view Extra Materials belonging to this volume. This book complements the highly successful Ecology of Cyanobacteria and integrates the discoveries of the past twelve years with the older literature.

Their World: A Diversity of Microbial Environments

Author : Christon J. Hurst
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319280716
Total Pages : 391 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (192 download)

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Book Synopsis Their World: A Diversity of Microbial Environments by : Christon J. Hurst

Download or read book Their World: A Diversity of Microbial Environments written by Christon J. Hurst and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-05-02 with total page 391 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Microbiomes of the Built Environment

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309449839
Total Pages : 318 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Microbiomes of the Built Environment by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Microbiomes of the Built Environment written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-10-06 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: People's desire to understand the environments in which they live is a natural one. People spend most of their time in spaces and structures designed, built, and managed by humans, and it is estimated that people in developed countries now spend 90 percent of their lives indoors. As people move from homes to workplaces, traveling in cars and on transit systems, microorganisms are continually with and around them. The human-associated microbes that are shed, along with the human behaviors that affect their transport and removal, make significant contributions to the diversity of the indoor microbiome. The characteristics of "healthy" indoor environments cannot yet be defined, nor do microbial, clinical, and building researchers yet understand how to modify features of indoor environmentsâ€"such as building ventilation systems and the chemistry of building materialsâ€"in ways that would have predictable impacts on microbial communities to promote health and prevent disease. The factors that affect the environments within buildings, the ways in which building characteristics influence the composition and function of indoor microbial communities, and the ways in which these microbial communities relate to human health and well-being are extraordinarily complex and can be explored only as a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem by engaging the fields of microbial biology and ecology, chemistry, building science, and human physiology. This report reviews what is known about the intersection of these disciplines, and how new tools may facilitate advances in understanding the ecosystem of built environments, indoor microbiomes, and effects on human health and well-being. It offers a research agenda to generate the information needed so that stakeholders with an interest in understanding the impacts of built environments will be able to make more informed decisions.

A Supplement to The Tombs of Westminster Abbey,

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 1 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (795 download)

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Book Synopsis A Supplement to The Tombs of Westminster Abbey, by :

Download or read book A Supplement to The Tombs of Westminster Abbey, written by and published by . This book was released on 1788* with total page 1 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Social Biology of Microbial Communities

Author : Institute of Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309264324
Total Pages : 633 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

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Book Synopsis The Social Biology of Microbial Communities by : Institute of Medicine

Download or read book The Social Biology of Microbial Communities written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-01-10 with total page 633 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with the germ theory of disease in the 19th century and extending through most of the 20th century, microbes were believed to live their lives as solitary, unicellular, disease-causing organisms . This perception stemmed from the focus of most investigators on organisms that could be grown in the laboratory as cellular monocultures, often dispersed in liquid, and under ambient conditions of temperature, lighting, and humidity. Most such inquiries were designed to identify microbial pathogens by satisfying Koch's postulates.3 This pathogen-centric approach to the study of microorganisms produced a metaphorical "war" against these microbial invaders waged with antibiotic therapies, while simultaneously obscuring the dynamic relationships that exist among and between host organisms and their associated microorganisms-only a tiny fraction of which act as pathogens. Despite their obvious importance, very little is actually known about the processes and factors that influence the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities. Gaining this knowledge will require a seismic shift away from the study of individual microbes in isolation to inquiries into the nature of diverse and often complex microbial communities, the forces that shape them, and their relationships with other communities and organisms, including their multicellular hosts. On March 6 and 7, 2012, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the emerging science of the "social biology" of microbial communities. Workshop presentations and discussions embraced a wide spectrum of topics, experimental systems, and theoretical perspectives representative of the current, multifaceted exploration of the microbial frontier. Participants discussed ecological, evolutionary, and genetic factors contributing to the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities; how microbial communities adapt and respond to environmental stimuli; theoretical and experimental approaches to advance this nascent field; and potential applications of knowledge gained from the study of microbial communities for the improvement of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health and toward a deeper understanding of microbial diversity and evolution. The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary further explains the happenings of the workshop.