Microbial Ecology of the Environment

Guest Editorial Microbial ecology of the environment This ‘Microbial Ecology of the Environment’ Special Issue focuses on linking microbial diversity with ecosystem function. Questions to be addressed include: * What interactions with the environment and with other organisms control microbial activity? * How can we better understand the biotechnological potential associated with the activity and diversity of microbial communities? * What factors influence the rate and extent of degradation of pollutants by microorganisms in the environment? Andrew S Ball Overall, the eight ‘In Focus’ and ‘Under the Microscope’ articles offer an introduction to the importance of microbial diversity and activity to ecosystem function across diverse environments. This To study microbes, is to study the biosphere. Carl Woese issue focuses on specific environments and microbial communities – (15 July 1928 30 December 2012) with an Australian focus (either of Australian environments and/or by Australian researchers) to highlight some of the key develop- Microbes represent not only the most abundant but also exhibit the ments across the microbial ecology discipline. The first In Focus greatest diversity of any group of organisms on the planet. Through article by Justin Seymour examines our current understanding of culture-dependent methods, the extraordinary physiological diver- microbial diversity and activity in the marine environment. The sity of microbial life has long been recognised. However, with the second In Focus article, written by Jacob Munro, Deborah Rich, application of molecular microbial techniques, estimates of micro- Simon Dingsdag and Nick Coleman provides valuable insight into bial diversity have increased dramatically. In particular, the advent the development and use of culture-independent microbiology. In of low cost, next generation sequencing technologies has led to an the first of the Under the Microscope articles, Eric Adetutu leads us explosion in sequence-based microbial community studies investi- through the microbial diversity and activity associated with caves gating taxon diversity and community structure (e.g. via rRNA gene within Australia, while Jacqueline Stroud and Mike Manefield de- analysis) and/or microbial function via metagenomics of the uncul- scribe the microbiology of acid sulphate soils and sulfidic sediments. tivated majority of microorganisms present within the environment. The theme then focuses on applied environmental microbiology as Such approaches have revealed a diverse wealth of hitherto Albert Juhasz examines the impact of bioavailability of the biodeg- unknown microbial taxa and provided new understanding of the radation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Australian soils, ecological and biological functions and adaptations of environmen- while Ashley Franks and Lucie Semenec discuss the microbiology tal microbes. What is required now is to link our understanding of of Microbial Electrolysis Cells. Mark Osborn and Slobodanka microbial diversity and complexity to ecosystem function. In natural Stojkovic continue the environmental pollution theme, with an environments, microorganisms interact with both biotic and abiotic article examining the role of microorganisms in the colonisation components of their ecosystems. These interactions are essential and degradation of plastic pollutants in marine environments. for ecosystem function with key specific functions including bio- Finally, Sayali Patil, Eric Adetutu and I discuss the activity and geochemical cycling, biodegradation of pollutants and the impacts diversity of the microbial communities in Australian contaminated of microbes upon the activity and health of plants and animals, groundwater. including humans. I hope you find this Special issue both of interest and of value. I Defining the specific role of individual microorganisms in the would like to thank all of the authors for their timely contributions environment is complex, due in part to the metabolic flexibility and also the Microbiology Australia Editorial Team, led by Ian and diversity within individual species, and additionally by function- Macreadie for their guidance and assistance through the develop- al redundancy whereby diverse species can carry out the same ment of this issue. biological activity. This is complicated further by the need to consider microbiology at different levels, namely: * First, at the smallest scale, the activity of the single microbial cell; Biography * Second, at the population level, involving interactions and com- Professor Ball is a graduate of Liverpool University in the UK (BSc, munication between members of the same species; and 1983; PhD, 1986). He has been working in the field of environmental * Third, at the community level where interactions occur between microbiology since 1983 with a focus on biogeochemical cycling members of multiple microbial species, and often with plants and and the degradation of pollutants in the environment. Professor Ball animals. currently teaches in the fields of environmental microbiology and At each level, we also need to investigate the interrelationship of biotechnology in the School of Applied Science, RMIT University the microorganism(s) with environmental factors such as nutrient in Melbourne, Australia. He is also Director of the Centre for and water availability and temperature and pH and, in turn, how Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe) at RMIT these affect ecological activity. University. 182 10.1071/MA14059 MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA * NOVEMBER 2014.

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