1.4: Defining ‘geomicrobiology’

The subdiscipline of earth science taken up by this book can best be described as geomicrobiology. Before concluding this introductory chapter, it is useful to consider some context for the field of geomicrobiology. Broadly speaking, geomicrobiology is an area of research that examines the roles of microorganisms in geological processes. It straddles the boundary between earth science and microbiology and integrates concepts from geochemistry, biochemistry, mineralogy, hydrology, microbial ecology, and more. By pulling concepts from these disciplines together, we can develop a more complete understanding of natural systems than is possible within a single discipline. As quoted at the beginning of this chapter, nature is not compartmentalized like our universities. Nature is interdisciplinary.

Multiple areas of geomicrobiology research have emerged over the past few decades. The chapters of this book consider topics that are essential to many of them. Whether your interest is in marine or terrestrial environments, modern systems or deep time, crude oil or drinking water, it will be helpful to understand ways that environments shape microbial activity and mechanisms by which microbes impact their environments.

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