Ebook: Marine microbiology: ecology & applications

Marine micro-organisms play a vital role in the maintenance of our planet, a fact which will have great bearing on our ability to respond to problems such as population increase, over-exploitation of fisheries, climate change and population. Powerful new tools, especially in molecular biology, remote sensing and deep-sea exploration, have led to astonishing discoveries of the abundance and diversity of marine microbial life and its role in global ecology. New tools and an increased interest in ecological factors have caused an upsurge of interest in this field of study. The book aims to convey the fascinating discoveries and great importance of this fast moving discipline to the student. Marine Microbiology is divided into three sections: the first reviews the main features of the marine environment and key aspects of marine microbial life; the second looks at the role of marine microorganisms in ecology, and the final section considers some of the applications of this knowledge, looking into areas such as disease and biodegradation.;Chapter 1 Microbes in the Marine Environment -- chapter Marine microbiology encompasses all microscopic organisms and viruses -- chapter Microbial processes shape the living world -- chapter iLIFE IS ABUNDANT AND ACTIVE BENEATH -- chapter Cold seeps also support diverse life -- chapter 2 Methods in Marine Microbiology -- chapter iDISCOVERY OF THE PLANET'S -- chapter i ". BUT THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME!" -- chapter The fi rst step in all nucleic acid investigations involves the isolation of genomic DNA or RNA from the culture or community -- chapter Genomic fi ngerprinting is used for detailed analysis of cultured microbes -- chapter Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics reveal metabolic activities in the environment -- chapter 3 Metabolic Diversity and Ecophysiology -- chapter iBACTERIA HAVE A -- chapter? WHY IS IRON SO SCARCE, YET SO -- chapter? VBNC BACTERIA? JUST RESTING, OR -- chapter Formation of biofi lms is an important step in microbial colonization of surfaces -- chapter Microbes growing in hydrothermal systems are adapted to very high temperatures -- chapter Microbes vary in their requirements for oxygen or tolerance of its presence -- chapter 4 Marine Bacteria -- chapter The cell wall is an important feature of bacterial cells -- chapter MAJOR TYPES OF MARINE BACTERIA, GROUPED BY PHENOTYPE -- chapter iTHE PANGENOME OF VIBRIOS -- chapter iMINIMAL GENOMES OF -- chapter? WHY DO "MOTHER" EPULOPISCIUM "GIVE -- chapter The spirochetes are Gram-negative, tightly coiled, fl exuous bacteria distinguished by very active motility -- chapter 5 Marine Archaea -- chapter Archaea in deep sediments can carry out anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to sulfate reduction -- chapter Conclusions -- chapter 6 Marine Eukaryotic Microbes -- chapter iROENBERGENSIS?THE -- chapter? WHY DO DINOFLAGELLATES -- chapter 7 Marine Viruses -- chapter iCARRY GENES FOR -- chapter Conclusions -- chapter 8 Microbes in Ocean Processes?Carbon Cycling -- chapter As well as light, photosynthetic activity depends on the availability of nutrients -- chapter Ingestion of bacteria by protists plays a key role in the -- chapter 9 Microbes in Ocean Processes?Nitrogen, Sulfur, Iron, and Phosphorus Cycling -- chapter NUTRIENT LIMITATION -- chapter iDIFFERENCES IN NITRATE USAGE BY -- chapter iWE SMELL THE SEASIDE. SEABIRDS -- chapter? DOES PLANKTON MIGRATION -- chapter 10 Symbiotic Associations -- chapter? WILL CORAL REEFS SURVIVE? -- chapter Viruses may help a sea slug to use "stolen" chloroplasts for photosynthesis -- chapter 11 Microbial Diseases of Marine Organisms -- chapter The fungus Aspergillus sydowii caused a mass mortality of sea fans in the Caribbean Sea -- chapter? WHAT ARE EPIZOOTICS? -- chapter? DID MOVEMENT OF TUNA FEED LEAD TO -- chapter iDOGS WITH A NOSE FOR WHALE POOP -- chapter DISEASES OF SEAWEEDS AND SEAGRASSES -- chapter 12 Marine Microbes as Agents of Human Disease -- chapter Mobile genetic elements play a major role in the virulence of Vibrio cholerae -- chapter Some diseases of marine mammals and fi sh can be transmitted to humans -- chapter 13 Microbial Aspects of Marine Biofouling, Biodeterioration, and Pollution -- chapter iSHIPWORM SYMBIONT DIGESTS WOOD AND -- chapter Molecular-based methods permit quicker analysis of indicator organisms and microbial source tracking -- chapter Bioremediation has been used to lessen the impact of oil spills on vulnerable coasts -- chapter Mobilization of mercury by bacterial metabolism leads to accumulation of toxic mehylmercury -- chapter 14 Marine Microbes and Biotechnology -- chapter? PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS?HOW -- chapter 15 Concluding Remarks -- chapter Glossary of Key Terms -- chapter Abbreviations.