Microbial Photosynthesis

In a world infested with environmental crises, ecological disruptions, and adverse climate change, humanity is naturally set to encounter an extremely dismal future that is in the offing. Such a dismal future evolving in the Anthropocene would be vastly unaffordable for a majority of living forms to live sustainably. And amidst the unabatedly intensifying climate mess, the oft-talked-about Sixth Mass Extinction event is bound to gradually expand its grip. The only ray of hope to halt environmental disruptions, resume ecological regeneration, and embark on climate healing processes comes from the ecological process that transforms inorganics into organics, that is, photosynthesis. Photosynthesis not only confines to primary productivity but also leads to the creation of food webs, carbon balance, and ecological integrity of the biosphere, vitally addressing climate-related issues.Microbial Photosynthesis: Nature’s Pioneers for a Climate-Resilient Earth ecstatically attempts to spell out all dimensions of photosynthesis performed by specific microbes. While photosynthesis performed by plants and algae has been widely studied and covers a pretty large body of literature, that performed by microorganisms has not been studied and appreciated to the extent to which it deserves. With far greater photosynthetic efficiency than that of plants and algae, the photosynthetic microbes could prove to be the most promising allies in addressing the currently prevailing and unabatedly ongoing climate crisis. This book, a quintessential publication indeed, stupendously attempts to bridge the gaps left in the information on photosynthesis the microorganisms play critical role in.Features:A comprehensive overview of oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms, ancient photosynthetic communities (microbial mats, stromatolites, and blueprints of Earth's first light-harvesting ecosystems), the Great Oxygen Event, etc.An in-depth discussion on various features and roles of cyanobacteria, microalgae, and other related photosynthetic microorganisms in bioenergy and bioeconomics.Photosynthetic microbial symbiosis, adaptations to extreme environments, and genetic and metabolic diversity of photosynthetic microbes.Photosynthetic microbes’ role in biogeochemical cycles, vital contributions to ecological integrity, and climate resilience.Future directions in photosynthetic microbe research and strategies for a climate-smart planet.This book on a somewhat neglected but indispensable topic exquisitely serves as a valuable and cherished textbook for undergraduate, graduate, and research scholars in life sciences, environmental science, agroecology, environmental physiology, microbial physiology, climate science, and the science of sustainability. In addition, the book also offers a practical and nature-based strategy for resolving the burning environmental issues of our contemporary world, enlightening the pathways to a climate-smart planet.