Table of Contents

1 Confocal Laser Microscopy and Computer Image Analysis in Microbial Ecology.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Computer Image Analysis.- 3. Confocal Laser Microscopy.- 4. Enumeration and Morphometry.- 5. Analysis of Growth, Metabolism, and Viability.- 6. Analysis of Surface Behavior.- 7. Biofilm Architecture and Chemistry.- 8. Analysis of Microstat Biofilms.- 9. Terms and Abbreviations.- References.- 2 Microbial Biosynthesis of Ethylene and Its Influence on Plant Growth.- 1. Introduction.- 2. History.- 3. Methodology.- 4. Physiological Aspects of Ethylene in Plants.- 5. Ethylene Production by Soil Microorganisms.- 6. Factors Affecting Ethylene Production.- 7. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 3 Oceanic Bacterial Production.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Bacterial Production in Marine Ecosystems.- 3. Regulation of Bacterioplankton Biomass and Production.- 4. Resources for Bacterial Production.- 5. Conversion Efficiency.- References.- 4 Ecological Significance of Coaggregation among Oral Bacteria.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Coaggregation: Definition and Description.- 3. Nascent Surfaces.- 4. Effect of Saliva on Coaggregation.- 5. Lactose-Inhibitable Coaggregations.- 6. Adhesins: General Comments.- 7. Adhesins of Gram-Negative Oral Bacteria.- 8. Adhesins of Oral Strepocci.- 9. Adhesins of Oral Actinomyces.- 10. Receptors on Oral Bacteria.- 11. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 5 Ribosomal RNA Analysis of Microorganisms as They Occur in Nature.- 1. Introduction.- 2. rRNAs as Descriptive Cell Components.- 3. rRNA Methods Useful in Microbial Ecology.- 4. Ecological Applications of rRNA Methods.- 5. The State of the Art.- References.- 6 Hydrocarbon Biodegradation and Oil Spill Bioremediation.- 1. Microbial Metabolism of Hydrocarbons.- 2. Factors Influencing Rates of Hydrocarbon Biodegradation.- 3.Assessing Bioremediation.- 4. Approaches to Bioremediation.- 5. Applications of Hydrocarbon Biodegradation for Bioremediation.- 6. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 7 Ecology of Polyprosthecate Bacteria.- 1. Diversity and Classification of Heterotrophic Prosthecate Bacteria.- 2. Discovery and Isolation of Polyprosthecate Bacteria.- 3. Distribution of Polyprosthecate Bacteria in Nature.- 4. Substrates Used by Prosthecate Bacteria as Sources of Carbon and Energy.- 5. Effect of Carbon and Energy Source Concentration on the Morphology of Polyprosthecate Bacteria.- 6. Role of Prosthecae in Substrate Transport of Polyprosthecate Bacteria.- 7. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate Storage and Exopolymer Production.- 8. Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Oligotrophs and Prosthecobacteria.- References.- 8 Genetic Exchange in Natural Microbial Communities.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Significance of Gene Transfer.- 3. Homologous Recombination.- 4. Conjugation.- 5. Transduction.- 6. Transformation.- 7. Nonhomologous Recombination.- 8. Maintenance of Genes and Gene Flux in Microbial Communities.- 9. Distribution and Persistence: Implications for Gene Transfer.- 10. Genetically Engineered Microorganisms.- 11. Future Directions for Research.- References.- 9 Ecological Aspects of Methane Oxidation, a Key Determinant of Global Methane Dynamics.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Microbiology.- 3. Methane Oxidation in Freshwater Sediments.- 4. Methane Oxidation in Soils.- 5. Anaerobic Methane Oxidation.- 6. Stable Isotopes as Indices of Methane Oxidation.- 7. Summary.- References.- 10 Microbial Systems: Patterns in Time and Space.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Modeling Structured Ecosystems.- 3. Pattern in Gel-Stabilized Systems.- 4. Motility Patterns.- 5. Fungal Growth Patterns.- 6. The Bacterial Colony.- 7. PatternFormation during Simple Morphogenesis.- 8. Principles of Pattern Formation.- 9. The Relevance of Pattern-Forming Processes to Microbial Ecosystems.- References.