Microbial Ecological Theory: Current Perspectives

The vast explosion of high-resolution molecular data in the past few years has provided an unprecedented glimpse into the microbial world. This book synthesizes current viewpoints and knowledge on microbial ecological theory. The book has assembled a collection of essays by a diverse group of well-respected scientists who merge the boundaries of ecology and microbiology to explore some of the central tenets of macro-ecological theory with a microbial perspective. The contributors explore the mainstays of macro-ecology asking questions such as "do microbes have biogeography?" and "does a microbial species concept exist?" Additionally, the book shows how high-resolution molecular data is informing and underpinning the evolution of microbial ecological theory. It demonstrates how the application of macro-ecological theory to the microbial world is not only enhancing our understanding of microbial ecology, but it also provides a reference point for the development of new theories. Written for graduate students and academic researchers, the book encourages cross-disciplinary thinking and provides direction and perspective on the still fledgling field of microbial ecological theory. It is highly recommended for all microbiology libraries.