Role of Microbes in Ecosystem Processes and Environmental Management (Developments in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology)

Role of Microbes in Ecosystem Processes and Environmental Management explores microbial ecology and its impact on ecosystem processes while also highlighting the latest advancements in the application of microbes in environmental management and other industries. The book provides an overview of microbes in their natural environments, covering their role in soil health, carbon cycling, waste degradation, and plant-microbe interactions. It discusses the influence of microbes on weathering, erosion, and climate change, as well as their crucial role in ecosystem regulation and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.

Sections also focus on the utilization of microbes in environmental management strategies as biocontrol agents and biological indicators of pollution and water quality and explore the practical applications of microbes in environmental bioremediation and for advanced microbial technologies in agriculture practices, food industries, energy production, mining, and healthcare. This is a comprehensive resource for researchers, faculty, postgraduate students, and industry professionals with a keen interest in microbial ecology and microbial-based product development.

• Details how microbes contribute to important processes in their natural environment, offering a comprehensive understanding of their role in maintaining ecosystem balance
• Highlights the potential of utilizing microbes as a solution to managing real-world environmental challenges
• Discusses the practical applications of microbial technology in areas such as water treatment, energy production, agriculture, and healthcare

Dr. Ritu Mishra is currently an Assistant Professor at Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India. She obtained her PhD in Molecular Virology and Neuropathogenesis from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India. She pursued her postdoctoral studies at Max Plank Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany. Her research investigates the molecular mechanisms of vascular pathologies during viral infection and metastasis. She has published multiple research papers, review papers, and chapters on viral neuropathogenesis and soil microbial contamination

Dr. Disha Mishra is a Senior Researcher at the CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. She received her PhD from CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow. Her research interests include the development of nano-bioformulations, nano-biocomposite preparation, smart delivery through nanomaterials, biochar production and its application for the remediation of pollutants from soil, soil chemistry, and solid waste management. Dr. Mishra has published several book chapters and research articles in peer-reviewed journals. She has also presented papers at international and national conferences.

Dr. Sughosh Madhav works as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. He has obtained his master’s degree from the Department of Environmental Science Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. He earned his doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. The area of his doctoral research is the environmental impact of textile effluents on groundwater and soil quality. He has published various research papers and book chapters in environmental geochemistry, water pollution, and wastewater remediation. He also edited 4 books related to water resource management in Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley publications.

Dr. Radhey Shyam Sharma is currently a Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies and OSD, Delhi School of Climate Change & Sustainability, Institute of Eminence, University of Delhi, in New Delhi, India. His research interests include understanding the ecology of abandoned mines and other contaminated sites for the development of ecological restoration and bioremediation biotechnologies. His specialization includes soil microbiology, plant-microbe interactions, phyto/bioremediation and environmental biotechnology. He has published several research papers in journals of international repute, such as Nature, Scientific Data, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal of Environmental Management, and Environmental Research. He actively teaches post-graduate students and guides PhD scholars in various areas of environment and ecology, particularly ecotoxicology and environmental health and environmental biotechnology at the University of Delhi. He also trains and builds capacity among university teachers, post-doctoral and doctoral research scholars through the organization of workshops and training programs.