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.
Download or read book Genetic Diversity of Soil Bacterial Communities written by Carmine Crecchio and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2020-11-13 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book contains research articles and reviews recently published online for the MDPI journal Diversity, in the Special Issue "Genetic diversity of soil bacterial communities". The issue aimed to collect up to date information from the international scientific community to get insight in the "black box", as soil has been defined in the last decades, focusing in detail on the role that the microbial communities have in soil processes such as carbon and nutrient fluxes and on their genetic and functional diversity. The book meets the interests of scientific communities directly involved in the topics investigated, as well as of PhD students, scholars, professional organizations interested in improving their knowledge on a group of organisms considered vitally important to the maintenance and sustainability of the biosphere, where soil has a key role as an important natural resource.
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.
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.
Download or read book Advances in Molecular Ecology written by Gary R. Carvalho and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Each contributor to this publication was asked to examine how molecular genetic tools have contributed to their specific areas of consideration. To increase the practical utility of the book, a summary of software that is available for the anaylsis of data in molecular ecology is included.
Download or read book The Architecture and Biology of Soils written by Karl Ritz and published by CABI. This book was released on 2011 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil is a fundamental and critical, yet often overlooked, component of terrestrial ecosystems. It is an extremely complex environment, supporting levels of diversity far greater than any ecosystem above ground. This book explores how soil structure develops and the consequences this has for life underground. The effects of spatial arrangement, of soil's physical and biological components on their interaction and function are used to demonstrate their roles in ecosystem dynamics.
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.
Download or read book The New Science of Metagenomics written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2007-06-24 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although we can't usually see them, microbes are essential for every part of human life-indeed all life on Earth. The emerging field of metagenomics offers a new way of exploring the microbial world that will transform modern microbiology and lead to practical applications in medicine, agriculture, alternative energy, environmental remediation, and many others areas. Metagenomics allows researchers to look at the genomes of all of the microbes in an environment at once, providing a "meta" view of the whole microbial community and the complex interactions within it. It's a quantum leap beyond traditional research techniques that rely on studying-one at a time-the few microbes that can be grown in the laboratory. At the request of the National Science Foundation, five Institutes of the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy, the National Research Council organized a committee to address the current state of metagenomics and identify obstacles current researchers are facing in order to determine how to best support the field and encourage its success. The New Science of Metagenomics recommends the establishment of a "Global Metagenomics Initiative" comprising a small number of large-scale metagenomics projects as well as many medium- and small-scale projects to advance the technology and develop the standard practices needed to advance the field. The report also addresses database needs, methodological challenges, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting this new field.
Download or read book Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics written by Karl Ritz and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-12-23 with total page 534 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soils have important roles to play in criminal and environmental forensic science. Since the initial concept of using soil in forensic investigations was mooted by Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes stories prior to real-world applications, this branch of forensic science has become increasingly sophisticated and broad. New techniques in chemical, physical, biological, ecological and spatial analysis, coupled with informatics, are being applied to reducing areas of search by investigators, site identification, site comparison and measurement for the eventual use as evidence in court. Soils can provide intelligence, in assisting the determination of the provenance of samples from artifacts, victims or suspects, enabling their linkage to locations or other evidence. They also modulate change in surface or buried cadavers and hence affect the ability to estimate post-mortem or post-burial intervals, and locate clandestine graves. This interdisciplinary volume explores the conceptual and practical interplay of soil and geoforensics across the scientific, investigative and legal fields. Supported by reviews, case-studies from across the world, and reports of original research, it demonstrates the increasing convergence of a wide range of knowledge. It covers conceptual issues, evidence (from recovery to use in court), geoforensics, taphonomy, as well as leading-edge technologies. The application of the resultant soil forensics toolbox is leading to significant advances in improving crime detection, and environmental and national security.
Download or read book Microbes for Climate Resilient Agriculture written by Prem Lal Kashyap and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2018-03-07 with total page 389 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive, edited volume pulling together research on manipulation of the crop microbiome for climate resilient agriculture Microbes for Climate Resilient Agriculture provides a unique collection of data and a holistic view of the subject with quantitative assessment of how agricultural systems will be transformed in coming decades using hidden treasure of microbes. Authored by leaders in the field and edited to ensure conciseness and clarity, it covers a broad range of agriculturally important crops, discusses the impact of climate change on crops, and examines biotechnologically and environmentally relevant microbes. The book encapsulates the understanding of microbial mediated stress management at field level, and will serve as a springboard for novel research findings and new applications in the field. Chapter coverage includes: the role of the phytomicrobiome in maintaining biofuel crop production in a changing climate; the impact of agriculture on soil microbial community composition and diversity in southeast Asia; climate change impact on plant diseases; microalgae; photosynthetic microorganisms and bioenergy prospects; amelioration of abiotic stresses in plants through multi-faceted beneficial microorganisms; role of methylotrophic bacteria in climate change mitigation; conservation agriculture for climate change resilience; archaeal community structure; mycorrhiza-helping plants to navigate environmental stresses; endophytic microorganisms; bacillus thuringiensis; and microbial nanotechnology for climate resilient agriculture. Clear and succinct chapters contributed and edited by leaders in the field Covers microbes' beneficial and detrimental roles in the microbiome, as well as the functions they perform under stress Discusses the crop microbiome, nutrient cycling microbes, endophytes, mycorrhizae, and various pests and diseases, and their roles in sustainable farming Places research in larger context of climate change's effect on global agriculture Microbes for Climate Resilient Agriculture is an important text for scientists and researchers studying microbiology, biotechnology, environmental biology, agronomy, plant physiology, and plant protection.
Download or read book Nucleic Acids in the Environment written by Jack T. Trevors and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-07 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Molecular biological techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction and purification, and especially the polymerase chain reaction, PCR, are rapidly gaining interest also in related fields, such as microbiology or environmental sciences. They offer new approaches and opportunities for the determination of microbial cells, DNA and RNA from soils, roots, rhizospheres, sediments and aquatic environments. Detailed protocols for these applications are described in this manual.
Download or read book Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual written by Antoon D. L. Akkermans and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-01-13 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For a long time microbial ecology has been developed as a distinct field within Ecology. In spite of the important role of microorganisms in the environment, this group of 'invisible' organisms remained unaccessable to other ecologists. Detection and identification of microorganisms remain largely dependent on isolation techniques and characterisation of pure cul tures. We now realise that only a minor fraction of the microbial com munity can be cultivated. As a result of the introduction of molecular methods, microbes can now be detected and identified at the DNA/RNA level in their natural environment. This has opened a new field in ecology: Molecular Microbial Ecology. In the present manual we aim to introduce the microbial ecologist to a selected number of current molecular techniques that are relevant in micro bial ecology. The first edition of the manual contains 33 chapters and an equal number of additional chapters will be added this year. Since the field of molecular ecology is in a continuous progress, we aim to update and extend the Manual regularly and will invite anyone to depo sit their new protocols in full detail in the next edition of this Manual. We hope this book finds its place where it was born: at the lab bench! Antoon D.L. Akkermans, Jan Dirk van Elsas and Frans J. de Bruijn March 1995 Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual 1.3.6: 1-8, 1996. © 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Download or read book Bacterial Stress Responses written by Gisela Storz and published by American Society for Microbiology Press. This book was released on 2010-11-16 with total page 1167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gain new insight on utilizing bacterial stress responses to better combat bacterial infection with antibiotics and improve biotechnology. • Reviews the vast number of new findings that have greatly advanced the understanding of bacterial stress responses in the past 10 years. • Explores general regulatory principles, including the latest findings from genomics studies, including new research findings on both specific and general stress responses. • Details how stress responses affect the interactions between bacteria and host cells and covers bacterial stress responses in different niches and communities, with an emphasis on extreme environments.
Download or read book Genetics of Bacterial Diversity written by David A. Hopwood and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While other texts in this area deal almost solely with the "workhorse strain" Escherischia coli, Genetics of Bacterial Diversity is the first to deal with genetics and molecular biology of the wide range of other bacteria, which carry out a whole spectrum of important scientific, medical, agricultural, and biotechnological activities. Taking genetic diversity as its theme it illustrates a range of interesting phenomena such as genetic systems controlling pathogenicity, symbiosis, chemotaxis, metabolic characteristics, and differentiation. With each chapter written by acknowledged experts, this definitive book contains up-to-the-minute information on this rapidly developing field.Written by leading experts, this text--aimed at graduate-level students and above--describes the genetics and molecular biology of a wide range of bacteria.
Download or read book Beyond the Biomass written by K. Ritz and published by . This book was released on 1994-09-27 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many soil microbiologists believe that the biomass concept needs extending to acknowledge the diversity of microbial form and function which exists within the total microbial pool. The main thrust of this book is to provide an international forum to report and discuss contemporary ideas in relation to characterizing complex microbial communities and their funtional analysis, especially in regards to nutrient cycling.
Download or read book Microbiomes of Soils Plants and Animals written by Rachael E. Antwis and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comparative, holistic synthesis of microbiome research, spanning soil, plant, animal and human hosts.
Download or read book Science Needs for Microbial Forensics written by National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Science Needs for Microbial Forensics: Developing an Initial International Roadmap and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For these reasons, building awareness of and capacity in microbial forensics can assist in our understanding of what may have occurred during a biothreat event, and international collaborations that engage the broader scientific and policy-making communities are likely to strengthen our microbial forensics capabilities. One goal would be to create a shared technical understanding of the possibilities--and limitations--of the scientific bases for microbial forensics analysis. Science Needs for Microbial Forensics: Developing Initial International Research Priorities, based partly on a workshop held in Zabgreb, Croatia in 2013, identifies scientific needs that must be addressed to improve the capabilities of microbial forensics to investigate infectious disease outbreaks and provide evidence of sufficient quality to support legal proceedings and the development of government policies.
