Microbiology of hot deserts / Jean-Baptiste Ramond and Don A. Cowan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ramond, Jean-Baptiste, author.

Cowan, Don, author.

Series:

Ecological Studies

Ecological Studies ; v.244

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Desert ecology.

Soil microbiology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (359 pages)

Place of Publication:

Cham, Switzerland : Springer International Publishing, [2022]

Summary:

This book covers the wider aspects of the microbiology of hot desert soil ecosystems, compiling disparate information from a range of relevant desert soil microbial fields. The reader learns about microbial ecology of the more dominant and possibly most important desert habitats, detailing the phylogenetic and functional diversity of these different habitats as well as their potential role in desert ecosystem ecology. Particular attention is also given to microbial stress adaptation in hot desert soils. Furthermore, it is the first volume in this particular field to cover modern metagenomics technologies that can be applied to studies of all aspects of desert microbial communities. Additionally, the book explores viruses and viral communities, which are among the least studied (and little understood) components of desert soil microbial communities. Particular attention is also given to the roles of desert microbial communities in biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogenand phosphorus. Through this book the reader discovers how desert microbiology has been at the forefront of Astrobiology and how it may be used conceptually in future terraforming strategies. Desert ecosystems are increasingly coming into focus given the impacts of climate change and desertification trends, making this volume particularly timely. Each of the chapters is authored by leading international researchers and is a must-read for microbial ecologists.

Contents:

Intro

Preface

References

Contents

1: A Brief Introduction to Hot Desert Environments: Climate, Geomorphology, Habitats, and Soils

1.1 Desert Climatology

1.1.1 Desert Precipitation

1.1.2 Drought

1.2 Desert Geomorphology

1.2.1 Desert Landscapes and Sediments

1.3 Desert Habitats

1.3.1 Introduction

1.3.2 Uplands, Inselbergs, and Rocky Outcrops

1.3.3 Drainage Systems

1.3.4 Saline Basins, Playas, and River End Points

1.3.5 Sand Plains and Sand Dunes

1.3.6 Desert Plains and Pediplains

1.4 Desert Soils

1.4.1 Semi-arid and Arid Soils

1.4.2 Introduction to Unconsolidated Porous Media

1.4.3 The Desert Pedoderm

1.4.4 Impeded Infiltration

1.4.5 Organic and Inorganic Carbon in Desert Soils

1.4.6 Nitrogen Dynamics in Desert Soils

1.5 Conclusion

2: Novel Methods for Studying the Structure and Function of Hot Desert Microorganisms and Their Communities

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Multi-omics and Bioinformatic Advances to Explore Community Structure and Functional Potential

2.3 Approaches to Probe Active Members

2.4 Metabolomics for Studying Nutrient Exchange

2.5 High-Resolution Imaging to Resolve Microbial Environments

2.6 Conclusion and Future Perspectives

3: Phototrophic Mats of the Desert: The Bacteria of the Biological Soil Crust Community

3.1 Introduction: What Constitutes a Biocrust?

3.2 Distribution of Biocrusts

3.3 Ecosystem Services of Biocrusts

3.3.1 Soil Stabilization

3.3.2 Water Infiltration

3.3.3 Nitrogen Fixation

3.3.4 Other Ecosystem Services of Biocrusts

3.4 The Bacteria of Biocrusts

3.4.1 Bacterial Diversity

3.4.2 Bacterial Taxonomy and Function in Biocrusts

3.4.2.1 Cyanobacteria

3.4.2.2 Structural Cyanobacteria

3.4.2.3 Cosmopolitan Cyanobacteria

3.4.2.4 Sporadic Cyanobacteria.

3.4.3 Other Phototrophs

3.4.4 Heterotrophic Bacteria

3.5 Conclusion

4: Microbial Ecology of Hot Desert Soils

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Hot Desert Edaphic Microbial Community Diversity and Assembly

4.2.1 Taxonomic Composition and Assembly Processes of Hot Desert Edaphic Communities

4.2.1.1 Prokaryotic Communities

4.2.1.2 Microeukaryotic Communities

4.2.1.3 The Hot Desert Soil Virosphere

4.2.2 Desert Soil Microbial Interactomes: Lessons from Co-occurrence Networks

4.3 Functional Properties of Desert Edaphic Communities

4.3.1 Desert Edaphic Communities Are Active During Dry Spells

4.3.2 The Impact of Water on Arid Soil Microbial Communities

4.4 Conclusions and Perspectives: Hot Desert Soil Microorganisms in a Changing World

5: Biology of Desert Endolithic Habitats

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The Endolithic Community

5.3 Climate and Macroscopic Drivers of Diversity

5.4 The Rock Habitat

5.5 Adaptive Strategies and Metabolism

5.5.1 Metabolic Pathways

5.6 Conclusion and Future Directions

6: Journey of a Thousand Miles: The Evolution of Our Understanding of Viruses in Hot Deserts

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Terrestrial Desert Phage Communities: Soil, Sand, and Rock

6.3 Aquatic Desert Phage Communities: Wadi´s, Gueltas, and Springs

6.4 Eukaryotic Viruses

6.5 Conclusion and Outlook

7: C, N, and P Nutrient Cycling in Drylands

7.1 Carbon in Drylands Soils

7.1.1 Soil Organic Carbon in Drylands Soils

7.1.2 Soil Inorganic C in Drylands Soils

7.1.3 Biomass Organic C in Dryland Soils

7.1.3.1 Vegetation

7.1.3.2 Microbial Autotrophs

7.1.4 Carbon Sequestration and Loss: The Impact of Abiotic and Biotic Factors

7.2 Nitrogen in Dryland Soils

7.2.1 Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) as N Input in Drylands.

7.2.2 Atmospheric N Deposition and N Discharges as N Inputs in Drylands

7.2.3 Nitrogen Losses in Drylands

7.2.4 Nitrification and Denitrification in Desert Soils

7.3 Phosphorus in Dryland Soils

7.3.1 P Stocks and Redistribution by Biological Processes in Drylands

7.3.2 Abiotic and Biotic Control of P Cycling

7.4 Role of Biological Soil Crust in Nutrient (C, N, and P) Cycles

7.5 Influence of Hydration-Desiccation Pulses on Nutrient (C, N, and P) Cycles

7.6 Impact of Climate Change on Nutrient Cycling

7.7 Conclusion

8: Diversity and Plant Growth-Promoting Properties of Microbiomes Associated with Plants in Desert Soils

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Plant-Associated Microorganisms in Hot Desert Biomes

8.2.1 Microorganisms Associated with Succulent Plants in Arid Ecosystems

8.2.2 Microorganisms Associated with the Rhizosheath-Root Systems of Xerophytic Desert Plants

8.2.3 Microorganisms Associated with Halophytes Inhabiting Arid Ecosystems

8.2.4 Microorganisms Associated with Oasis Date Palm, a Model Crop in Desert Agro-Ecosystems

8.3 PGP Microorganisms Associated with Desert-Adapted Plants as a Biotechnological Resource

8.3.1 Where to Select Valuable PGP Microorganisms Against Drought and Their Essential Features

8.3.2 How to Isolate Powerful PGP Microorganisms

8.3.3 The Functional Roles Exerted by Microorganisms Associated to Desert Plants

8.4 Conclusions

9: Insights of Extreme Desert Ecology to the Habitats and Habitability of Mars

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Desert Habitats and Ecosystems on Earth

9.2.1 Soils

9.2.2 Lithic Substrates

9.2.3 Sediments

9.2.4 Salts

9.3 Insights from Extreme Desert Ecology

9.3.1 Trends of Ecological Change in Deserts

9.4 Potential Desert Habitats on Mars

9.4.1 Soils and Regolith

9.4.2 Lithic Substrates.

9.4.3 Sediments of Potential Paleoplayas/Paleolakes on Mars

9.4.4 Salts

9.5 Extrapolating Terrestrial Deserts to Mars

10: Survival under Stress: Microbial Adaptation in Hot Desert Soils

10.1 Introduction: Hot Deserts and Their Challenges to Life

10.2 Adaptation to Desiccation and Osmotic Stresses

10.2.1 Sporulation

10.3 Membrane Modifications

10.4 Accumulation of Compatible Solutes

10.5 Protein Protection

10.6 Biofilm Formation and EPS Production

10.7 Adaptation to Oligotrophy

10.8 Adaptations to UV Radiation

10.9 Temperature Adaptations

10.10 Concluding Remarks

11: The Response of Soil Microbial Communities to Hydration and Desiccation Cycles in Hot Desert Ecosystems

11.1 Introduction to Desert Terminology

11.2 Response to Hydration in Desert Ecosystems

11.2.1 Rhythm of Plant Primary Production

11.2.2 Carbon Dioxide Pulse

11.2.3 Nitrogen Pulsing

11.3 Bacterial Composition in Desert Soils

11.3.1 Biological Soil Crust

11.3.2 Topsoil Community Composition

11.4 Soil Bacteria Response to Hydration-Desiccation Cycles in Desert Ecosystems

11.4.1 The Response of Desert Soil Bacteria to Desiccation

11.4.2 The Response of Desert Soil Bacteria to Hydration

11.4.3 Pulse Theory and Grime´s Hypothesis

11.5 Conclusion

12: Hot Desert Microbiology: Perspectives in a Warming World

References.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Ramond, Jean-Baptiste Microbiology of Hot Deserts

ISBN:

3-030-98415-X