Microbial Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach - Hardcover

McArthur, J Vaun

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0123694914 ISBN 13: 9780123694911

Publisher: Academic Press, 2006

Synopsis

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.

• Applies evolutionary ecological concepts to microbes
• Addresses individual, population and community ecology
• Presents species concepts and offers insights on the origin of life and modern microbial ecology
• Examines topics such as species interactions, nutrient cycling, quorum sensing and cheating

About this title

Book Description

Explore microbial ecology from the vantage point of evolutionary ecology

From the Back Cover

Microorganisms came into existence over 3.8 billion years ago and they are found everywhere today. The roles of these organisms in the environment, their ecology, have been finely honed by evolutionary processes over the complete span of life on earth. Most evolutionary and ecological theory has been developed with macroorganisms as the model organisms. Considering that evolution has been acting on microorganisms longer than all other organisms combined it is the thesis of this book that insights into both evolution and ecology can be obtained through the study of microorganisms. Here we examine the evolutionary ecology of microorganisms from individual, population, and community perspectives. Species interactions including competition, predation, parasitism, and mutualisms as well as microbial communication through quorum sensing are examined through the lens of evolutionary ecology. Microbial sex and reproduction, nutrient cycling, and cheating are considered through the same lens. Optimal foraging, genome reduction, novel evolutionary mechanisms, bacterial speciation, r and K selection and many other topics are measured from a microbial perspective. The result is a context for understanding microbes in nature and a framework for microbiologists working in industry, medicine, and the environment.

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0123694914
• ISBN 13: 9780123694911
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432