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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.
List of contents
Preface. Contributors. Enzyme Activities and Microbiological and Biochemical Processes in Soil. Ecology of Microbial Enzymes in Lake Ecosystems. Ecological Significance of Bacterial Enzymes in the Marine Environment. Enzymes and Microorganisms in the Rhizosphere. Enzymes in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Microbes and Enzymes associated With Plant Surfaces. Microbial Enzymes in the Biocontrol of Plant Pathogens and Pests. Micorbiology and Enzymology of Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling. Enzyme and Microbial Dynamics of Litter Decomposition. Fungal Communities, Succession, Enzymes, and Decomposition. Enzyme Adsorption on Soil Mineral Surfaces and Consequences for the Catalytic Activity. Microbes and Enzymes in Biofilms. Search For and Discovery of Microbial Enzymes From Thermally Extreme Environments in the Ocean. Molecular Methods for Assessing and Manipulating the Diversity of Microbial Polulations and Processes. Bioindicators and Sensors of Soil Health and the Application of Geostatistics. Hydrolytic Enzyme Activities to Assess Soil Degradation and Recovery. Enzymatic Responses to Pollution in Sediments and Aquatic Systems. Microbial Dehalogenation Reactions in Microorganisms. Isolated Enzymes for the Transformation and Detoxification of Organic Pollutants. Enzyme-Mediated Transformations of Heavy metals/Metalloids: Applications in Bioremediation. Enzymes in Soil: Research and Developments in Measuring Activities. Index.
About the author
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.
Summary
Exploring the role of enzymes in biogeochemical processes, this book explores the function, molecular biology, and biochemistry of microorganisms and their intra-and extra-cellular enzymes in soils and aquatic systems. It offers discussions on the use of enzymes to assess nutrient turnover, soil health, and environmental stresses.
