Environmental Microbiology
Principles and Applications
Patrick K. Jjemba
Biological Sciences Department, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
ISBN 978-1-57808-348-0; 2004; 384 pages, pb; US$ 53.80      Buy Now

This book was written for an audience that has a basic understanding of microbiology. Often microbiologists tend to overzealously focus on bacteria, inadvertently ignoring other microbes (i.e., algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses). This discrepancy is redressed herein. Scholars of environmental microbiology come from a variety of disciplines including Microbiology majors, Social Scientists, Engineering, Law (Environmental Law), Agriculturalists, Geography (GIS), Chemists (Environmental Chemists), Toxicologists and so forth. Considering such a diverse audience, not everyone will be content with the depth accorded to all aspects of the topic. However, the reader will find the extensive references rich resources for more in-depth data. The material presented here recognizes the basic foundations and importance of conventional microbiological techniques (which focused greatly on culture-based studies), linking them with information from more recent nonconventional techniques. Various principles are also applied which attest to the undisputable reality that microbes in pure culture may function somewhat differently than in complex multispecies environmental matrices.

This book is unique in that the subject is approached from a history of microbes and their places in shaping the environment, rather than a history of microbiology. This approach properly introduces the reader to the several different microorganisms and then unveils the role of each in the environment. That environmental degradation is more prevalent in developing countries is a commonly recognized fact. This book covers the basic concepts of water treatment and modes of application in a variety of backgrounds and economic settings. Basic microbiological concepts such as physiology, genetics, and metabolism are discussed with reference to ecological concepts and biochemical cycling. A chapter on environmental biotechnology is also included.

Microbial Evolution and Diversity
Introduction. The origin of life. Microbial diversity and abundance. Geological evidence of early microbial life on earth. Onset of Photosynthesis and Resultant Diversification. Formation of ozone and its effects. A living Earth. Genetic materials in evolution. Molecular chronome-try

Prokaryotes
Abundant but uncultured. Problems encountered by prokaryotes in the environment. Successful Adaptation by prokaryotes to the environment. Salient features of bacterial genome

Protozoa
Evolution of protozoa. Major groups of protozoa. Environmental adaptability, survival, and dispersal of protozoa. Protozoa as symbionts and parasites of metazoans. Motility, Taxes, and other modes of positioning. Physiological ecology of free-living protozoa and their impact on the environment. Reproduction in the successful existence of protozoa in the environment

Fungi, Algae and their Associations
Ecological importance and distribution of fungi and algae; Environmental adaptability; Physiological ecology; Symbiotic associations

Viruses and Related Particles
What are viruses? Occurrence of viruses in the environment. Survival of viruses in the environment. Other virus-like particles

Methods in Environmental Microbiology
What microorganisms are present? Physiological status and activity of microbes in the environment. General approaches to determining microbial biomass and activity. Concluding remarks

Mechanisms of Adaptation by Microorganisms to Environmental Extremes
Principles of selective enrichment. Energetics of microbial processes in the environment. Biotic factors affecting adaptation. Abiotic (Physicochemical) factors affecting adaptation

Ecological Relationships in Exploiting Resources
Levels of ecological organization. Resources. Types of interactions. Typical microbial interactions

Microorganisms in Biogeochemical Cycling
Significance of biogeochemical cycling of nutrient elements. Carbon cycle. Nitrogen cycle. Phosphorus cycle. Sulfur cycle. Iron cycle

Microbial Interactions with Organic Pollutants
Growth-linked biodegradation. Cometabolism. Influence of physicochemical properties on organic compound biodegradation. Mechanisms of metabolizing different classes of organic pollutants. Linking knowledge of microbial metabolism to the fate of pollutants in field sites

Microbiology of the Atmosphere
Impact of microbial activities on the greenhouse effect. Types of bioaerosols; Survival of bioaerosols in the environment; Sampling for bioaerosols

- Interaction of Metals and Metalloids with Microorganisms in the Environment
- Chemical and physical properties of environmental significance
- Sources of metal pollution
- Effects of metal pollution on microbes
- Metal corrosion
- Biotransformation and bioremoval of heavy metals from polluted environments
- Biological cycling of specific heavy metal pollutants
- Using microbes to leach metals

Water and Biosolids Microbiology
Water supply. Waterborne diseases. Water purification and treatment. Water quality testing. Sewage treatment. Self-purification capacity of natural waters. Reuse of sewage and other wastes.

Medical Environmental Microbiology
Ecology of infectious agents and progression of diseases. Vector-borne diseases. Food- and waterborne diseases. Airborne infections. Risk assessment. Concluding remarks

Environmental Biotechnology and Biological Control
Public concerns; Promising opportunities; The a-glucuronidase ( GUS ) gene; The Bt-toxin gene; Genetically engineeri microorganisms in bioremediation