This book presents a summary of terrestrial microbial processes, which are a key factor in supporting healthy life on our planet. The authors explain how microorganisms maintain the soil ecosystem through recycling carbon and nitrogen and then provide insights into how soil microbiology processes integrate into ecosystem science, helping to achieve successful bioremediation as well as safe and effective operation of landfills, and enabling the design of composting processes that reduce the amount of waste that is placed in landfills. The book also explores the effect of human land use, including restoration on soil microbial communities and the response of wetland microbial communities to anthropogenic pollutants. Lastly it discusses the role of fungi in causing damaging, and often lethal, infectious diseases in plants and animals.

Autorentext
Christon J. Hurst Cincinnati, Ohio, USA 

and 

Universidad del Valle, Santiago de Cali, Valle, Colombia e-mail: christonjhurst@fuse.net

Inhalt

Carbon Cycle Implications of Soil Microbial Interactions.- Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of the Modern Nitrogen Cycle.- Integrating Soil Microbiology into Ecosystem Science.- Environmental Systems Biology Approach to Bioremediation.- Systems and Methods for Studying Microbial Processes and Communities in Landfills.- Microbial Community Dynamics During the Composting Process of Animal Manure as Analyzed by Molecular Biological Methods.- Effects of Land Use and Restoration on Soil Microbial Communities.- Microbial Communities in Salt Marsh Systems and Their Responses to Anthropogenic Pollutants.- Dirt and Disease: The Ecology of Soil Fungi and Plant Fungi that are Infectious for Vertebrates.