Tales from the microscopic world
Abstract
Microorganisms are at the heart of healthy ecosystems. Without bacteria and fungi, nutrients wouldn't be recycled back into the environment and new plants would be left struggling to survive. These microbes support everything from lush National Parks to life-providing agriculture. However, we have yet to answer a number of basic questions about the world's tiniest creatures. Microorganisms' small size and outstanding diversity mean that the methods used in microbial research can be difficult and expensive. However, the more we learn, the more we understand that the microscopic world is very different from the visible world. The microbial world is strange, akin to science fiction, but real, making it fascinating to study. Methods and technology in microbial ecology are quickly advancing. More and more, we are able to start answering those most basic questions. In this presentation, we will explore why I love microbial ecology: the importance of microorganisms and the intrigue of the microscopic world.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMEP53D..18W
- Keywords:
-
- 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings);
- GENERAL OR MISCELLANEOUS