Polar Microbiology The Ecology, Biodiversity and Bioremediation Potential of Microorganisms in Extremely Cold Environments

Pollution has accompanied polar exploration since Captain John Davis? arrival on the Antarctic continent in 1821 and has become an unavoidable consequence of oil spills in our polar regions. Fortunately, many of the organisms indigenous to Polar ecosystems have the ability to degrade pollutants. It is this metabolic capacity that forms the basis for bioremediation as a potential treatment for the hydrocarbons that contaminate the pristine polar environments.

The only book to cover the breadth of microbial ecology and diversity in polar regions with an emphasis on bioremediation, Polar Microbiology: The Ecology, Biodiversity, and Bioremediation Potential of Microorganisms in Extremely Cold Environments examines the diversity of polar microorganisms and their ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in polar terrestrial and aquatic environments. Providing a unique perspective of these microorganisms in extremely cold temperatures, the book focuses on their taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, population structure, bioremediation potential, and potential for biotechnology applications. Leading investigators in the field provide complete coverage of the microbiology relevant to the study of biodiversity and biodegradation of pollutants in the Arctic and Antarctic, including:

• Microbial extremophiles living in cold and subzero temperature environments





• Genetics and physiology of cold adaptation of microorganisms





• Biodegradative microbial consortia in a defined closed environment





• Molecular characterization of biodegradative microbial populations





• Molecular approaches to assess biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons





• Environmental impact of hydrocarbon contamination





• Microbial biodiversity across Antarctic deserts

By bringi

Microbiology of Antarctic Terrestrial Soils and Rocks. Archaeal Diversity in Antarctic Ecosystems. Bacterial Biodiversity of Antarctica: Conventional Polyphasic and rRNA Approaches. L.I.F.E. in Antarctic Lakes. Psychrophilic and Psychrotolerant Microbial Extremophiles in Polar Environments. Cold Adaptation in Antarctic Biodegradative Microorganisms. Possible Role of Bacteriophage-Mediated Horizontal Gene Transfer on Microbial Adaptation to Environmental Stressors in Polar Ecosystems. Sources of Organic Matter for the Archean Cryosphere. Response of Polar Soil Bacterial Communities to Fuel Spills. Microbial Degradation of Petroleum Compounds in Cold Marine Water and Ice. Potential for Microbial Biodegradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Polar Environments. Tolerance of Antarctic Soil Fungi to Hydrocarbons and Their Potential Role in Soil Bioremediation. Do Fertilizers Help in Effective Bioremediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Polar Soils? Bioremediation of Contaminated Sites in the Canadian Arctic: Monitoring Performance and the Effects of Biostimulation Using Molecular Methods. Occurrence, Distribution and Nature of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Genes in Biodegradative Microorganisms from the Antarctic Environment. Potential Use of Real-Time PCR to Assess Changes in the Microbial Population Structure and Function during Bioremediation of Polar Soils. Microbial Bioremediation in Polar Environments: Current Status and Future Directions. Index.