Preface

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingForeword/postscript

Abstract

In praise of geomycology Interactions between the microbially dominated biosphere and the geosphere have and are profoundly affecting our planet and all life on it. Geomicrobiology can be defined as the study of the role that microbes have played and are playing in processes of fundamental importance to geology, and within the diffuse boundaries enclosed by this definition, fungi are important components. Some of the major geological processes affected by microbial activities include mineral formation, mineral degradation (including weathering, bioleaching, soil and sediment formation), element cycling and fossil fuel genesis and degradation. The cycling of component elements from organic and inorganic substrates as a result of these processes can be termed biogeochemical cycling, which again emphasizes the interplay between physicochemical and biological mechanisms. The study of the roles and importance of fungi as agents of geological change can be termed geomycology and fungi are ideally suited for this purpose. The branching, filamentous mode of growth allows efficient colonization and exploration of solid substrates while extracellular release of enzymes and other metabolites mediates many organic and inorganic transformations. Considerable physical force can arise from hyphal penetration while translocation of resources through the mycelium enables exploitation of environments where nutrients have an irregular distribution. Fungi can attack silicates, carbonates, phosphates and other minerals while their carbonaceous predilections are well-known, extending to recalcitrant organic molecules of natural origin, e.g. lignin and chitin, or from anthropogenic activity, e.g. pesticides and other xenobiotics.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFungi in Biogeochemical Cycles
EditorsGeoffrey Michael Gadd
PublisherUNESCO/Cambridge University Press
Pagesxvii-xx
ISBN (Electronic)9780511550522
ISBN (Print)9780521845793
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2006

Publication series

NameBritish Mycological Society Symposia
PublisherCambridge University Press
Volume24

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Preface'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this