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Detailed information dealing with the ecology ofmycobacteriais derived from a variety of different scientific fields such asbotany, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology andepidemiology. This is the first attempt to evaluate this informationfrom an ecological point of view and to develop a strategy for theprevention of tuberculosis and other mycobacterioses based on theecological behavior of mycobacteria, especially the potentiallypathogenic species capable of either growth in the environment orprovoking disease. Regarding the interests of the developingcountries, special attention is paid to the ecology ofMycobacterium leprae and to the supporting effect ofaccompanying mycobacteria in its pathogenicity. On a more positive side, environmental mycobacteria play an importantrole in the ecology of moorland dragonflies. Such a book is needed for specialists working in the field ofmycobacterial research, clinical laboratories, the public healthservice, food hygiene, the water industry and in general ecology. ... Read more

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This is the first book dedicated to the interactions of non-mycorrhizal microbial endophytes with plant roots. The phenotypes of these interactions can be extremely plastic, depending on environmental factors, nutritional status, genetic disposition and developmental stages of the two partners. This book explores diversity, life history strategies, interactions, applications in agriculture and forestry, methods for isolation, cultivation, and both conventional and molecular methods for identification and detection of these endophytes.

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The application of microbiological methods to the extraction of metals from minerals is supported by several bioleaching and biooxidation processes operating in different sites over the world. This book details the basic aspects of the process with special emphasis on recent contributions regarding the chemical and microbial aspects of the bioleaching process and the use of microorganisms in the treatment of complex ores and concentrates.

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The study of microbial communities in terrestrial habitats requires a great variety of different techniques. This book offers a good overview of substrate utilization tests, their standardization and the handling of the resulting data. It also covers a wide range of potential applications, including agricultural, ecological (environmental impact and global change) and soil remediation aspects. Structural approaches are also presented. ... Read more

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Once considered exceptional rarities, extremophiles have become attractive objects for basic and applied research ranging from nanotechnology to biodiversity to the origins of life and even to the search for extraterrestrial life. Several novel aspects of extremophiles are covered in this book; the focus is firstly on unusual and less explored ecosystems such as marine hypersaline deeps, cave environments, desert sands and man-made clean rooms for spacecraft assembly. Secondly, the increasingly complex field of applications from extremophile research is treated and examples such as novel psychrophilic enzymes, compounds from halophiles, detection strategies for potential extraterrestrial life forms and attempts of large scale desertification control are presented

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This book is concerned with new applications of molecular biology techniques to aquatic microbiology and demonstrates the potential to solve some intractable problems. It deals in depth with topics ranging from the ability of molecular techniques to characterize assemblages of microorganisms which cannot be cultured, to novel ways to measure rates of production. In addition to the chapters which emphasize the molecular approach, a number of contributions, written by eminent aquatic microbiologists, highlight important processes that are making rapid progress. ... Read more

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There is increasing awareness among biologists that mutualistic interactions play a key role in natural communities. One of the best-known examples of a mutualistic interaction is the mycorrhizal symbiosis formed between soil fungi and the majority of plants. These symbioses are present in almost all terrestrial ecosystems and yet, until recently, their contributions to the functioning of those ecosystems have been poorly understood. This multi-authored book gives an overview of recent advances and breakthroughs. The contributions of all the major mycorrhizal types to plant population biology, multitrophic interactions, biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, global change and evolution are given. This volume shows that collaboration in the rhizosphere is essential for plants, microbes, plant communities and ecosystems. It has been written with ecologists in mind, giving them easy access to an understanding of how these important interactions could shape our ecosystems. ... Read more

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After the publication of Volume IV in 1997, the introduction of molecular methods into ecology led to significant new findings. Emphasizing these advances, the chapters for the second edition have been completely updated and revised. This volume provides insight into current research on fungal populations and communities. It focuses on fungal responses to the physical environment, interactions with other fungi, microorganisms and invertebrates, the role of fungi in ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling, and aspects of biogeography and conservation. Several chapters deal with various applications in, e.g. biological pest control, natural products discovery, and the degradation of toxic organic compounds. This is an invaluable source of information both for scientists who wish to update their knowledge of current progress and for graduate students interested in obtaining a first overview of this field of research.

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Decomposition is an ecological process that recycles dead tissues, mainly from primary production, into nutrients in the soil. The Ecology of Soil Decomposition describes trophic interactions between species that carry out the decomposition of organic matter in the soil. Key topics addressed feature functional groups, spatial stratification and succession patterns over time, involving bacteria, protists, fungi and micro-invertebrates. Emphasis is placed on the role of species diversity in functional groups. ... Read more

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This complete introduction to a growing field describes the methods available for analysis of the biological, chemical and physical data collected for autecological studies. It describes and analyzes a range of techniques, from improved in situ techniques to genetic engineering procedures and computer analysis, and discusses potential research in multi-species associations and soil, marine and freshwater habitats. ... Read more

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The objective of this unique text is to present a conceptual synthesis of plant, animal, and microbial ecology. Focusing on the application of ecological and evolutionary principles to the individual organism, the author discusses topics such as genetic variation, nutritional mode, size, growth and growth form, life cycle, and interaction with the environment. He concludes with a summary of similarities and differences in the life histories of micro- and macroorganisms. His central premise, illustrated by examples from diverse areas of ecology, is that in the broad range of aspects considered here, all organisms have been similarly shaped by evolution operating through differential reproductive success and thus promoting the development of analogous traits. ... Read more

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Every 225 million years the Earth, and all the life on it, completes one revolution around the Milky Way Galaxy. During this remarkable journey, life is influenced by calamitous changes.Comets and asteroids strike the surface of the Earth, stars explode, enormous volcanoes erupt, and, more recently, humans litter the planet with waste.Many animals and plants become extinct during the voyage, but humble microbes, simple creatures made of a single cell, survive this journey. This book takes a tour of the microbial world, from the coldest and deepest places on Earth to the hottest and highest, and witnesses some of the most catastrophic events that life can face. Impossible Extinction tells this remarkable story to the general reader by explaining how microbes have survived on Earth for over three billion years.Charles Cockell received his doctorate from the University of Oxford, and is currently a microbiologist with rhe Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI), based at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, UK. His research focusses on astrobiology, life in the extremes and the human exploration of Mars.Cockell has been on expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, Mongolia, and in 1993 he piloted a modified insect-collecting ultra-light aircraft over the Indonesian rainforests.He is Chair of the Twenty-one Eleven Foundation for Exploration, a charity that supports expeditions that forge links between space exploration and environmentalism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fairly Informative
The book is pretty good but has some detractions.The organization does not hang together all that well.Some of the
potential causes of mass extinctions are not related to the Earth's 225 million year trip around the galactic center, so this obscure fact is mentioned too often and with too little affect. The book has neither footnotes nor a general reference section - this is disappointing because there are a lot of interesting facts that one might want to pursue further but it will take some effort to find the primary sources.

"Life" Seen Against A Cosmic Backdrop
In recent years, a new, broad scientific discipline has come into being: Astrobiology. As with anything new, its scope is still undergoing formulation. Some see Astrobiology as simply "exobiology-plus" (exobiology being a term used to describe the search for life's origins on earth -and elsewhere). Others (as a somewhat generic space biologist I include myself) see Astrobiology as something much more expansive - something not at all distant from "Life, the universe, and everything" to lift a line from Douglas Adams.

In his book "Impossible Extinction" author Charles Cockell embraces the larger definition of the term. His task is daunting: describe the Earth's voyage through the cosmos as a backdrop for the origin and evolution of life across the planet's surface - and subsurface. Add in regular catastrophes - of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial origin, stand back, and watch what life does.

Throughout the book (written in engaging style for both an educated layperson or a seasoned professional) it becomes clear that the true survivors as each disaster besets our planet are microbes.Not only do microbes barely hang on, but they thrive.

Over the course of life's tenure on our planet microbes have come to inhabit some of the most improbable and extreme (from a human perspective that is) ecological niches on - and within our planet. Such flexibility and tenacity affords the chance for survival even if the surface of the planet is laid waste and partially molten.

Of course, Earth is but one planet amongst an unimaginable number thought to exist in the universe.Cockell addresses this as well, placing our world and the life it carries, against a truly cosmic perspective.The reader of this well-presented book is left with a clear, concise understanding of what life is capable of enduring on Earth. And if it happened on this planet ...

To Live and Let Live
It is only within the last decade that most scientists have accepted that the Earth's geology and biology are both shaped by celestial events, as well as tectonic ones. Cockell has worked in both the Arctic and the Antarctic to study microscopic life under extreme conditions, and he gives us a splendid account of how microbes, which make up to 80% of our planet's biomass, have survived on our planet for three and a half billion years. He uses the 225 million year cycle it takes the Earth to circle the galaxy as a timeframe within which to describe their ability to survive everything from catastrophic volcanism to the impacts of asteroids. Along the way, he also examines chances for life elsewhere in the solar system. Needless to say, he demonstrates conclusively why microbes stand a better chance of survival on Earth than we do. Cockell's writing is authoritative, humorous, and accessible to a lay audience.

Great book!
I thought this book would be really technical, but I really enjoyed it, it was easy to read and very interesting!

An oustanding book
"IMPOSSIBLE EXTINCTION" by Charles S. Cockell is a fascinating book reflecting on the extraordinary hardiness and resilience of microbial life compared to that of more evolved and narrowly adapted forms of life in the face of global ecological catastrophes as can occur in planetary evolution. In addition to providing a comprehensive overview on the wonderful role and importance of microbes in evolution, Cockell's book presents bold new ideas about the possibilities of microbial life throughout the universe and of future life on Earth, and is at the same time an extremely entertaining read. I recommend this beautifully written book wholeheartedly to the scientist and the lay person alike. It has the feel of an instant classic. ... Read more

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Addresses medically-important biofilm/host interactions, plant biofilms, microbial/ invertebrate associations, and how bacteria respond to surfaces. Contributions focus on how molecular/genetic aspects influence the broader ecology of these relationships. ... Read more

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This volume and its companion, Volume 337, supplement Volume 310. These volumes provide a contemporary sourcebook for virtually any kind of experimental approach involving biofilms. They cover bioengineering, molecular, genetic, microscopic, chemical, and physical methods. ... Read more

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This text contains proceedings of the "Federation of European Microbiological Societies Symposium", held at Copenhagen, Denmark, during 4-8 August 1985. ... Read more

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In this Journey to Microbial Worlds we present thediversity of microorganisms, from the state of fossil microbes inArchaean age rocks to the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. Thisvolume discusses the extremophiles living in harsh environments (fromour anthropocentric point) and describes them in considerable detail.Some chapters also review topics such as symbiosis, bacterialluminescence, methanogens, and petroleum-grown cells. The finalchapters of this book shed new light on astrobiology and speculate onextremophiles as candidates for extraterrestrial life. All chaptersare updated to the latest research level. ... Read more

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This volume presents information and techniques which are at the leading edge of microbial acid rain research and addresses a number of topical and important issues of global concern.Topics discussed include microbial responses to low pH and biogeochemical processes.Cycling of organic matter, microbial interactions with higher forms of biota, and the factors affecting these processes and interactions are described.This book is of special interest to researchers and those involved in management of acid - stressed waters. ... Read more