Richard G. Burns – författare

Exploring the role of enzymes in biogeochemical processes, this reference explores the function, molecular biology, and biochemistry of microorganisms and their intra-and extra-cellular enzymes in soils and aquatic systems. With contributions from international experts, the book provides detailed discussions on the use of enzymes to assess nutrient turnover, soil health, and environmental stresses. Topics include methods for determining and manipulating the diversity of microbial populations, the effect of biofilms and their microbes ad enzymes on the environment, microbe-plant symbiosis, microbial activities in lake and ocean ecosystems, and terrestrial ecosystem stress, and more.

The need to understand the biological processes that are important for essential aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function has prompted much research into the field of ecological enzymology. This book presents the two broad areas of application in a compilation of reviews by 21 international experts in their respective fields. The first explores enzymatic activities to assess the processes or mechanisms that operate in a given system, such as the rhizosphere, plant leaves and shoots, soil surfaces, and biofilms. The second considers enzymes or microbial cells as sensors to detect microbial activity and stresses due to pollution, management, or climatic change in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.