Understanding Terrestrial Microbial Communities

Description

This book presents a summary of terrestrial microbial processes, which are a key factor in supporting healthy life on our planet. The authors explain how microorganisms maintain the soil ecosystem through recycling carbon and nitrogen and then provide insights into how soil microbiology processes integrate into ecosystem science, helping to achieve successful bioremediation as well as safe and effective operation of landfills, and enabling the design of composting processes that reduce the amount of waste that is placed in landfills. The book also explores the effect of human land use, including restoration on soil microbial communities and the response of wetland microbial communities to anthropogenic pollutants. Lastly it discusses the role of fungi in causing damaging, and often lethal, infectious diseases in plants and animals. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Carbon Cycle Implications of Soil Microbial Interactions (Kelly I. Ramin, Steven D. Allison)....Pages 1-29 Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of the Modern Nitrogen Cycle (Aaron L. Mills)....Pages 31-63 Integrating Soil Microbiology into Ecosystem Science (David A. Lipson, Xiaofeng Xu)....Pages 65-102 Environmental Systems Biology Approach to Bioremediation (Terry C. Hazen)....Pages 103-127 Systems and Methods for Studying Microbial Processes and Communities in Landfills (Joseph E. Weaver, Ling Wang, Francis L. de los Reyes III, Morton A. Barlaz)....Pages 129-150 Microbial Community Dynamics During the Composting Process of Animal Manure as Analyzed by Molecular Biological Methods (Nozomi Yamamoto, Yutaka Nakai)....Pages 151-172 Effects of Land Use and Restoration on Soil Microbial Communities (Vicky L. McKinley)....Pages 173-242 Microbial Communities in Salt Marsh Systems and Their Responses to Anthropogenic Pollutants (Jonna M. Coombs)....Pages 243-287 Dirt and Disease: The Ecology of Soil Fungi and Plant Fungi That Are Infectious for Vertebrates (Christon J. Hurst)....Pages 289-405