Enzymes in the Environment: Activity, Ecology, and Applications (Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment)

The need to understand the biological processes that are important for essential aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function has prompted much research into the field of ecological enzymology. This book presents the two broad areas of application in a compilation of reviews by 21 international experts in their respective fields. The first explores enzymatic activities to assess the processes or mechanisms that operate in a given system, such as the rhizosphere, plant leaves and shoots, soil surfaces, and biofilms. The second considers enzymes or microbial cells as sensors to detect microbial activity and stresses due to pollution, management, or climatic change in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Richard G. Burns is Professor of Environmental Microbiology at the University of Kent, Canterbury, England. The author, coauthor, editor or coeditor of over 100 research articles, book chapters and books, he is a member of the Society for General Microbiology, the International Union of Soil Sciences, the International Association on Water Quality, and the Society of Chemical Industry. A Chief Editor of Soil Biology & Biochemistry, he received the B.Sc. degree (1966) from the University of Wales, and the Ph.D. degree (1969) from the University of London, England. Richard P. Dick is Professor of Soil Science at Oregon State University, Corvallis. The author, coauthor, editor or coeditor of over 120 journal articles, invited proceedings, book chapters and books, he is a member of the Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Sciences, among others. A Fulbright Scholar and an associate editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal, he received the B.S. degree (1974) in plant science from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the M.S. degree (1977) in soil science from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and the Ph.D. degree (1985) in soil science from Iowa State University, Ames.