This collection of essays discusses fascinating aspects of the concept that microbes are at the root of all ecosystems. The content is divided into seven parts, the first of those emphasizes that microbes not only were the starting point, but sustain the rest of the biosphere and shows how life evolves through a perpetual struggle for habitats and niches. Part II explains the ways in which microbial life persists in some of the most extreme environments, while Part III presents our understanding of the core aspects of microbial metabolism. Part IV examines the duality of the microbial world, acknowledging that life exists as a balance between certain processes that we perceive as being environmentally supportive and others that seem environmentally destructive. In turn, Part V discusses basic aspects of microbial symbioses, including interactions with other microorganisms, plants and animals. The concept of microbial symbiosis as a driving force in evolution is covered in Part VI. In closing, Part VII explores the adventure of microbiological research, including some reminiscences from and perspectives on the lives and careers of microbe hunters.
Given its mixture of science and philosophy, Microbes: The Foundation Stone of the Biosphere will appeal to scientists and advanced students of microbiology, evolution and ecology alike.
Part I: Recognizing the Role of Microorganisms in our World
Chapter 1: Our living world rests upon a foundation of microorganisms: the constant struggle for habitat and niche / Christon J. Hurst
Chapter 2: Darwin's Science's Impact on the Evolution of the Microbiological Sciences / Kenneth M. Noll
Chapter 3: Microbes and marine sediments: a life-long relationship on Earth's Biosphere / Jeronimo Pan
Chapter 4: The Democracy of Dirt: relating Micro-scale dynamics to macro-scale ecosystem function / Joshua Schimel
Part II: Microbial life persists within even the most extreme environments
Chapter 5: The concept of evanescent microbial ecosystems in Earth's atmosphere / Dale Warren Griffin
Chapter 6: When the vital signs of microbial life go cold, does that mean the pulse is gone? Microbial life persists at the limits of cryoenvironments on Earth / Jacqueline Marie Goordial
Chapter 7: Lithotrophic ("Stone Eating") Microbes Provide the Foundation for Deep Subsurface Ecosystems / Thomas L. Kieft
Part III: Understanding the core values of microbial metabolism
Chapter 8: Miraculous fixation of molecular nitrogen from the atmosphere / Vladimir Klaban
Chapter 9: Mutagens, radicals, rocket fuel and laughing gas - stringing metabolic modules to survive on nitrogenous poisons / Martin G. Klotz and Lisa Y. Stein
Chapter 10: The grand microbial variety show / Aharon Oren
Part IV: Microbes established and sustain life
Chapter 11: Microbes' many roles in climate change: contribution, consequence, mitigation, and model system / Sanghoon Kang
Chapter 12: The Revolutionary Potential of the Hidden Half of Nature in Agriculture and Medicine / David R. Montgomery
Chapter 13: Microscale Carbon Cycling Between Bacteria and Algae Under the Sun / Xavier Mayali
Part V: The basic aspects of microbial symbioses
Chapter 14: Discovering the Symbiotic Nature of Microbial Life: Summarizing Milestone Publications from 1866 through 1947 / Christon J. Hurst
Chapter 15: Microscopic World and the Phenomenon of Symbiosis in the Natural Environment / Vladimir Klaban
Chapter 16: Symbiosis in a rapidly changing world / Kerry M. Oliver and Clesson H. V. Higashi
Chapter 17: Diversity-function relationships and the underlying ecological mechanisms in host-associated microbial communities / Catalina Cuellar-Gempeler
Chapter 18: Darwinian medicine: we evolved to require continuing contact with the microbiota of the natural environment. Evolution turns the inevitable into a necessity / Graham A. W. Rook
Chapter 19: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Enzyme ACC Deaminase / Shimaila Ali and Bernard R. Glick
Chapter 20: The diazotroph as an endophyte and how a diazotroph interacts with its plant host / Se-Chul Chun
Chapter 21: The Hologenome Hypothesis and its Application to Plant-Microbe Interactions on an Evolutionary Scale / Saber Kouas, Noor Khan, and Ann M. Hirsch
Chapter 22: Beneficial role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in bioremediation of heavy metal(loid) contaminated agricultural fields / Krishnendu Pramanik, Sandipan Banerjee, Debosmita Mukherjee, Kunal Kumar Saha, Tushar Kanti Maiti, Narayan Chandra Mandal
Chapter 23: Defensive microbiomes: a widespread phenomenon in nature / Sarah Worsley
Chapter 24: Coevolution of molluscs and their microbes / Aide Lasa and Jesus L. Romalde
Chapter 25: Invisible interactions between microorganisms / Kenji Ueda
Part VI: Microbial symbiosis as a driving force in evolution
Chapter 26: The Game of Evolution is Won by Competitive Cheating / Christon J. Hurst
Chapter 27: The Importance of Being Symbiont and the Role of Symbiosis as a Driving Force in Evolution / Francisco Carrapico
Chapter 28: Viruses, underestimated drivers of ecology and evolution of life / Antje Lauer
Chapter 29: Coevolution of bryophytes and their associated microorganisms / Guillermo Reboledo and Ines Ponce de Leon
Part VII: The adventure of microbiology research
Chapter 30: Bubbles in the Mud: A Reminiscence and Perspective / Ronald S. Oremland
Chapter 31: Salty, Alkali-Laced Tales (mostly true) from the Great Basin Desert, California and Nevada / Ronald S. Oremland