ISBN-13: 9780632054541 / Angielski / Miękka / 2006 / 440 str.
Introduction to Geomicrobiology is a timely and comprehensive overview of how microbial life has affected Earth's environment through time. It shows how the ubiquity of microorganisms, their high chemical reactivity, and their metabolic diversity make them the most significant biological factor controlling the chemistry of our planet.The book covers the following topics: how microorganisms are classified, the physical constraints governing their growth, and their phylogenetic diversity throughout the Earth's surface environmentsmicrobial metabolic capabilities, the chemical reactivity of the cell surface, its ability to absorb metals and the critical role of biomineralisationthe function of microorganisms in natural mineral dissolution and oxidation reactions and the industrial and environmental ramifications of these processesthe role of microorganisms in elemental cycling from biofilms to the ocean sediment column.Based on concepts from the earlier chapters, the book concludes with a synopsis of the events that led to the emergence of life and the subsequent evolution of the biosphere.This book is an essential reference for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in Earth and Biological Sciences, and students and researchers in Soil Sciences, Limnology/Oceanography and Engineering..