Microbiology of Hot Deserts

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, nitrogen and 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.