Staying current in a discipline where advances are defined by methodological developments can be a challenge – that’s why more people choose Microbial Ecology over any other resource available. The fourth edition features enhanced coverage of hot topics such as biofilms, thermal vent communities, extreme habitats, starvation response, molecular methods for studying microbial ecology, microbial biodiversity, biodegradation and bioremediation, extensive updating including the latest research findings and references, and over 45 new art and photos that illustrate complex concepts and processes.

The authoritative #1 textbook for introductory majors microbiology, Brock Biology of Microorganisms continues to set the standard for impeccable scholarship, accuracy, and outstanding illustrations and photos. This book for biology, microbiology, and other science majors balances cutting edge research with the concepts essential for understanding the field of microbiology, including strong coverage of ecology, evolution, and metabolism.

Designed for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and environmental professionals, this book builds upon the tremendous success of the previous editions with a comprehensive and up to date discussion of environmental microbiology as a discipline that has greatly expanded in scope and interest over the past several decades. From terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to urban and indoor environments, this edition relates environmental microbiology to a variety of life science, ecology, and environmental science topics including biogeochemical cycling, bioremediation, environmental transmission of pathogens, microbial risk assessment, and drinking water treatment and reuse. The final chapter highlights several emerging issues including microbial remediation of marine oil spills, microbial contributions to global warming, impact of climate change on microbial infectious disease, and the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

• Presents state of the art research results with key, recent references to document information
• Emphasizes critical information using “Information Boxes” throughout
• Includes real world case studies to illustrate concepts, along with frequent use of graphics, cartoons and photographs
• Offers questions at the end of each chapter designed to test key concepts
• Lecture slides available for instructors online

This book places the main actors in environmental microbiology, namely the microorganisms, on center stage. Using the modern approach of 16S ribosomal RNA, the book looks at the taxonomy of marine and freshwater bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses, and the smaller aquatic animals such as nematodes and rotifers, as well as at the study of unculturable aquatic microorganisms (metagenomics). The peculiarities of water as an environment for microbial growth, and the influence of aquatic microorganisms on global climate and global recycling of nitrogen and sulphur are also examined. The pollution of water is explored in the context of self-purification of natural waters. Modern municipal water purification and disease transmission through water are discussed. Alternative methods for solid waste disposal are related to the economic capability of a society. Viruses are given special attention. By focusing on the basics, this primer will appeal across a wide range of disciplines.

Based on the thesis that insights into both evolution and ecology can be obtained through the study of microorganismsm, Microbial Ecology examines microbiology through the lens of evolutionary ecology. Measured from a microbial perspective, this text covers such topics as optimal foraging, genome, reduction, novel evolutionary mechanisms, bacterial speciation, and r and K selection. Numerous aspects of microbial existence are also discussed and include: species competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, microbial communication through quorum sensing and other. The result is a context for understanding microbes in nature and a framework for microbiologists working in industry, medicine, and the environment.

Soil Microbiology is a user-friendly introduction to the incredible world of soil microbiology. The microscopic life in soil influences virtually everything in our lives from the water we drink, the food we eat, to the air we breathe. Understanding something about the life in soil, appreciating the things that these life forms do, and seeing how these activities influence our world is the goal of this textbook. This is a book you can actually read and comprehend with a minimum exposure to soil science or microbiology. It’s appropriate for advanced high school students and college students just embarking on the study of environmental science. The textbook describes the life in soil in numerous short chapters that explain the basic concepts of soil microbiology in simple terms. Soil Microbiology is full of pictures that illustrate each chapter’s content, and it takes the reader through graphs and figures that a soil microbiologist would be interpreting every day. For almost every topic, the textbook provides a brief description of the procedures by which that information was obtained. The questions at the end of each chapter not only test the reader’s general knowledge, but also stimulate them to think in broader, more abstract terms. Each chapter also has questions that help the reader use the math skills a typical soil microbiologist might use. Three large appendixes provide the reader with a glossary of common soil microbiology terms, a complete list and pronunciation guide of all the microorganisms listed in the textbook, and a time line that puts some of the events in soil microbiology into historical perspective.

This book is an advanced undergraduate text in microbial ecology. It is selective in its subject matter, but each subject included is covered at a level suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduates. The volume is intended as a sequel to Microbial Ecology: a Conceptual Approach, published in 1979, and edited by Drs Lynch and Poole.

Characterizes soil microflora from descriptive and functional viewpoints; considers the biological processes that take place in the soil and their importance to soil fertility, plant growth, and environmental quality. Deals with the biochemical basis for soil processes, including microbial ecology, the carbon and nitrogen cycles, mineral transformation, and ecological interrelationships.

The rapid expansion od industry and the excessive demands made on limited natural resources have caused genuine concern at all levels of society. In the past this concern has concentrated on plants and animals and their relationships with their environments, but now attention is also turning towards microorganisms whose role is crucial to so many natural processes – from global life and mineral cycles through to the production of beer and milk products. After a brief introduction to microbiology this book concentrates on the ecological aspects of microbial life covering a wide variety of topics including structure, behaviour, growth, dispersal, interactions and how microbes act as symbionts and pathogens. Such a wide-ranging interdisciplinary approach will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students of microbiology, plant and animal ecology, agronomy, forestry and environmental sciences. Professionals working in the same fields will also find it informative as will those working in plant pathology and soil, aquatic, medical and food microbiology.

The author team of Prescott’s Microbiology continues the tradition of past editions by providing a balanced, comprehensive introduction to all major areas of microbiology. This balance makes Microbiology appropriate for microbiology majors and mixed majors courses. The authors have introduced a number of pedagogical elements designed to facilitate student learning. They also remain focused on readability, artwork, and the integration of several key themes (including evolution, ecology and diversity) throughout the text, making an already superior text even better.