Biological Highways in the Sky The Dispersal of Microorganisms, Insects and Other Small Life Forms via the Atmosphere

About this book

Language: English

This book explores the discipline of aerobiology, the study of the atmosphere as a dynamic transport system for microorganisms and small organisms such as insects. It brings together interdisciplinary competence from Life, Earth and Mathematical Sciences to describe emissions processes such as wildfire smoke, sea spray and recurrent uplift from plant canopies; transport processes and trajectories in the past, present and future; and how the voyagers survive the atmospheric physico-chemical conditions. The book introduces tools to trace dispersal routes, assess post-deposition impacts, as well as the concepts of “atmospheric biogeography” and “windsheds” to understand and anticipate microbial movement across landscapes and borders.

Contents

Introduction: the precarious yet never-ending cycle of voyages on high / Cindy E. Morris, Leda N. Kobziar, Brent C. Christner, Claire Garros, François De Vleeschouwer

Section 1. The nature of atmospheric highways and principles for understanding how microbial particles can ride them
Chapter 1. Air mass movement across Earth: Highways for particle transport in the past, present and future / Fabrice Lambert
Chapter 2. A primer on the aerodynamic traits of microbial particles that define their capacity for dispersal / Cindy E. Morris
Chapter 3. Approaches to quantifying emissions of bioaerosols and hunting for the hot spots / Federico Carotenuto
Chapter 4. Modelling the transport of microorganisms: What can we learn from particle transport models? / Rémy Lapere, Sylvain Mailler

Section 2. The travel diaries of microorganisms and insects that ride the winds
Chapter 5. Uncovering microbial resilience aloft: Exploring boundary conditions in atmospheric environments / Kevin P. Dillon, Donna E. Fennell, Gediminas Mainelis
Chapter 6. Metabolic activity of airborne microorganisms / Florent Rossi, Raphaëlle Péguilhan, Pierre Amato
Chapter 7. Release of primary biological aerosol particles from surface waters / Paul Zieger, Julika Zinke, Gabriel Pereira Freitas, Matthew Salter
Chapter 8. Wildland fire smoke plumes as generators and transporters of living biological aerosols / Leda N. Kobziar, Krista Bonfantine, James Markwiese, Jay R. Reichman, Taylor Minich, Timothy Dean, Phinehas Lampman, Kalia Bistolas
Chapter 9. More than wings: Long-distance dissemination of insects in the atmosphere / Margaux Darnis, Alexandra Schoeny, Nicolas Sauvion
Chapter 10. Glacial archives of ancient atmospheres and aerobiota / Fiona Harris, Brent Christner

Section 3. The extent of aerial voyages and their impact on disease epidemiology and environmental quality
Chapter 11. An overview of the demographic and genetic toolbox for assessing wind-assisted dispersal / Margaux Darnis, Karine Berthier
Chapter 12. Ecosystem invasion by airborne microorganisms / Marie Labat Saint Vincent, Romie Tignat-Perrier, Aurélien Dommergue, Catherine Larose
Chapter 13. Biology of the air we breathe: Potential impact on health / David Sykes, Elisa Giammarini, Gillian Clayton, Iain McLellan, Andrew Hursthouse
Chapter 14. Using the logic of aerial dissemination patterns and networks for optimizing plant disease surveillance strategies / Andrea Radici, Davide Martinetti

General Conclusion / Cindy E. Morris, Leda N. Kobziar, Brent C. Christner, Claire Garros, François De Vleeschouwer

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