Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual

For a long time microbial ecology has been developed as a distinct field within Ecology. In spite of the important role of microorganisms in the environment, this group of 'invisible' organisms remained unaccessable to other ecologists. Detection and identification of microorganisms remain largely dependent on isolation techniques and characterisation of pure cul- tures. We now realise that only a minor fraction of the microbial com- munity can be cultivated. As a result of the introduction...