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Biodiversity of Microbial Life

Foundation of Earth's Biosphere

James T Staley author Anna-Louise Reysenbach author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Wiley & Sons Inc

Published:9th Nov '01

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Biodiversity of Microbial Life cover

Biodiversity of Microbial Life places the importance and novelty of the diversity of the microbial world in perspective with the biodiversity of plants and animals. Microbial diversity has driven the evolution of all life on Earth as well as the nutrient cycles, which are key to the operation of the biosphere. Microorganisms live in all ecosystems, even extreme environments not habitable to other organisms. Noted experts including Carl Woese, the originator of the Tree of Life, and Rita Colwell, who is now Director of the National Science Foundation, offer their unique perspectives on the extent and importance of microbial biodiversity. Special emphasis is placed on:
* Evolution, speciation, and contrasts between microbial biodiversity and plant and animal biodiversity
* Physiological and metabolic diversity of microorganisms
* Biodiversity of microbial life in terrestrial and marine environments
* Symbioses between microorganisms and plants, insects, and humans
* Extreme environments populated exclusively or primarily by microorganisms including thermal vents and hot springs, polar sea ice environments, and subterranean ecosystems
* Microorganisms and biotechnology

Biodiversity of Microbial Life is an essential resource for all biologists interested in biodiversity.

"...memorizing bacterial taxa or biochemical pathways in the absence of an evolutionary framework leaves much to be desired. If you or your students would be more enthusiastic if this were done in association with evolutionary concepts...then you will enjoy learning more about the latest research?this book is an excellent place to start." (The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 77, No. 3, September 2002)

ISBN: 9780471254331

Dimensions: 246mm x 162mm x 31mm

Weight: 835g

592 pages