Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Versatility of Microorganisms

  • Chapter
Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats ((COLE,volume 1))

Abstract

Living organisms are ubiquitous; they are observed in almost every ecological niche, from the air to various habitats on land and deep in the oceans. The abiding presence of microorganisms has also a temporal dimension. Living microorganisms have been found from 100 year-old beer bottles to 40 million-year-old amber. Fossil evidence suggests that the Earth’s earliest organisms were themselves “extremophiles.” Extremophiles can be defined as those organisms observed in uncommon habitats (from our anthropocentric viewpoint). Kristjánsson and Hreggvidsson (1995) define an extremophile as one whose optimal growth conditions are found outside of “normal” environments, with normal being those that have a temperature between 4 and 40°C, pH between 5 and 8.5, and with a salinity between that of freshwater and that of seawater. Extremophiles include not only bacteria and archaea but also some eukaryotic organisms, see chapters by Roberts, Elster, Chretiennol-Dinet (q.v.).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bartlett, D., Wright, M., Yayanos, A. A. and Silverman, M. 1989. Nature 342: 572–574.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, D. and Bidle, K.A. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beeder, J., Nilsen, R. K., Rosnes, J. T., Torsvik, T. and Lien, T. (1994) Applied and Environmental Microbiology 60(4): 1227–1231.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben Amotz, A. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brierley, C. L. and Brierley, J. A. (1997) In: C. J. Hurst (ed.) Manual of Environmental Microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D. C., pp. 830–841.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock, T.D. 1978a. Science 158: 1012–1019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brock, T. D. 1978b. Thermophilic microorganisms and life at high temperatures. New York, Springer Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, J. M., Kennicutt, M. C. II, Fisher, C. R., Macko, S. A, Cole, K., Childress, J. J., Bidigar, R. R. and Vetter, R. D. (1987) Science 238: 1138–1142.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chela-Flores, J. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chretiennol-Dinet, J. In: J. Seckbach, (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, Y. E. and Stotsky, G. (1989) In: Beveridge, T. J. and Doyle, R. J. (eds.), Metal Ions and Bacteria. Wiley, New York, pp. 31–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, J. B., Baross, J. A. and Hoffman, S. E. 1981. Oceanologica Acta: Proceedings of the 26th International Geological Congress, Geology of Oceans Symposium, Paris, July 7-17, 1980, 56–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, J. B., Dymond, J., Gordon, L. I., Edmond, J. M., von Herzen, R. P., Ballard, R. D., Green, K., Williams, D., Bainbridge, A., Crane, K. and van Andel, T. H. (1979) Science 203: 1073–1083.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elster, J. (1998) In: J. Seckbach, (ed.): Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Flechtner, V. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foght, J. and McFarlane, D.M. (1998) In: J. Seckbach, (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann, E. I. (1993) Antarctic Microbiology. New York: Wiley-Liss. 634 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garty, J. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorbushina, A. A. and Krumbein, W. E. (1998) In: J. Seckbach, (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, W. D. and Tindall, B.J. (1980) In: G. W. Gould and J. E. L. Corry (eds.) Microbial Growth and Survival in Extremes of Environment, Academic Press, New York, pp. 27–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, W. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackstein, J. (1998) In J. Seckbach, (ed.): Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbert, R. A. (1986) In: Microbes in Extreme Environments, R. A. Herbert and G. A. Codd (eds.). Academic Press, New York, pp. 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann L. (1994) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Evolutionary Pathways and Enigmatic Algae: Cyanidium caldarium (Rhodophyta) and Related Cells. Kluwer Academic Publishers. PP. 175–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, C. (1998) Science 270: 1639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horikoshi, K. (1998) In: J. Horikoshi and W. D. Grant (eds.), Extremophiles: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments, Wiley, New York, pp. 155–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Itoh, R. and Kuroiwa, T. (1998) In: J. Seckbach, (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Javor, B. (1989) Hypersaline Environments: Microbiology and Biogeochemistry. Springer-Verlag, New York, 328 p.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kamekura, M. (1998) In: J. Seckbach, (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands, (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristjänsson, J. K. and Hreggvidsson, G. O. (1995) World Journal of Microbiol. & Biotechnology 11: 17–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leahy, J. G. and Colwell, R. R. (1990) Microbiological Reviews 54: 305–315.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Madigan, M. T. and Marrs, B. L. (1997) Scientific American 276(4) 66–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margulis, L. (1992) In: L. Margulis and L. Olendzenski (eds.) Environmental Evolution,. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, pp. 149–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKay, D. S., Gibson Jr., E. K., Thomas-Keprta, K. L., Vali, H., Romanek, C. S., Clemett, S. J., Chillier, X. D. F., Maechilng, C R. and Zare, R. N. (1996) Science 273: 924–930.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, P. and Dow, C. S. 1986. In: R. A. Herbert and G. A. Codd (eds.), Microbes in Extreme Environments, Academic Press, New York, pp. 187–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morita, R. Y. (1975) Bacteriological Reviews 39: 146–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morita, R. Y. (1986) In: R. A. Herbert and G. A. Codd (eds.), Microbes in Extreme Environments, Academic Press, New York, pp. 171–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nealson, K. H. (1997) Journal of Geophysical Research 102(E10): 23,675–23,686.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohta, N, Sato, N. and Kuroiwa, T. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Onofri, S. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Onstott, T. C. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Oren, A. (1998) In: J. Seckbach. (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pace, N. R. (1997) Science 276: 734–740.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen, K., Ekendahl, S., Tullborg, E-L., Fumes, H., Thorseth, I. and Tumyr, O. (1997) Geology 25: 827–830.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pick, U. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachel, R. (1998) In: J. Seckbach. (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, D. In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosnes, J. T., Torsvik, T. and Lien, T. (1991) Applied and Environmental Microbiology 57: 2302–2307.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schopf, J. W. (1993) Science 260: 640–646.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seckbach, J. (1994) editor. Evolutionary Pathways and Eigmatic Algae: Cyanidium caldarium (Rhodophyta) and related Cells. Kluer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Seckbach, J. (1997) In: C.B. Cosmovici, S. Bowyer and D. Werthimer (eds.) Astronomical and Biochemical Origins and the Search for Life in the Univrse. Poceeding of the 5th International Confrerence on Bioastronomy IAU Colloquium No. 161 (Capri, July 1-5, 1996). Editrice Compsitori, Italy, pp 511–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seckbach, J. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Seckbach, J., Baker, F. A. and Shugarman, P.M. (1970) Nature 227: 744–745.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seckbach, J., Fredrick, J.F. and Garbary, D.J. (1983) In: H.E.H. Schenk and W. Schwemmler (eds.) Endocytobiology II. Intracellular Space as Oligogenetic Spaces. Proceeding of the second Colloquium on Endocytobiology. Tubingen, Germany. April 10-15, 1983. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin. pp. 947–962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seckbach, J. Jensen, T.E., Matsuno, K., Nakamura, H., Walsh, M.M. and Chela-Flores, J. (1998) In: J. Chela-Flores and F. Raulin (ed). V Trieste Conference on Chemical Evolution. Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, B. 1998. In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands (this volume)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetter, K. O. (1998a) In: E. Wagner et al. (eds) Proceedings of Endocytobiology VII, April 1998, Freiburg, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetter, K. O. (1998b). In: J. Horikoshi and W. D. Grant (eds.), Extremophiles: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments, Wiley, New York, pp. 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetter, K. O., Huber, R., Block, E., Kurr, M., Eden, R. D., Fielder, M., Cash, H. and Vance, I. (1993).Nature 365: 743–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, T. O. and McKinley, J. P. (1995) Science 270: 450–454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Svitil, K A. (1997) Discover 18: 86–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Meer, J. R., de Vos, W. M., Harayama, S. and Zehnder, A. J. B. (1992) Microbiological Reviews 56: 677–694.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tielen, N. and Garbary, D. J. (1998) In: J. Seckbach. (ed.) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ventosa A. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vishniac, H. S. (1998) In: J. Seckbach, (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, T. M., Criddle, C. S. and McCarty, P. L (1987) Environmental Science and Technology 21: 722–736.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vreeland, R. and Rosenzweig, W. D. (1998) In: J. Seckbach (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, M. (1992) Precambrian Research 54: 271–293.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westall, F. (1998) In: j. Seckbach, (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yayanos, A. A. (1998) In: J. Horikoshi and W. D. Grant (eds.), Extremophiles: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments, Wiley, New York, pp. 47–92.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 7080, USA

    Maud M. Walsh

  2. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach (Visiting Professor & John P. Laborde Chair of Louisiana Sea Grant)

  3. LSU, Baton Rouge, LA., 70803, USA

    Joseph Seckbach (Visiting Professor & John P. Laborde Chair of Louisiana Sea Grant)

Authors
  1. Maud M. Walsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph Seckbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Joseph Seckbach

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Walsh, M.M., Seckbach, J. (1999). The Versatility of Microorganisms. In: Seckbach, J. (eds) Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4838-2_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4838-2_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-1863-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4838-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation