Life in Extreme Environments

Life in Extreme Environments PDF

Author: Guido di Prisco

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-10-15

Total Pages: 383

ISBN-13: 1108498566

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A diverse account of how life exists in extreme environments and these systems' susceptibility and resilience to climate change.

Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments

Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments PDF

Author: Joseph Seckbach

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-12-01

Total Pages: 623

ISBN-13: 9401148384

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Modern methods and approaches, such as the analysis of molecular sequences to infer evolutionary relationships among organisms, have provided vast new sets of data to further our understanding ofliving organisms, but there remain enigmas in the biological world that will keep scientists working and thinking for decades. Microorganisms by virtue of their small size and almost unbounded diversity provide ample examples of intriguing mysteries that are being challenged with all of the techniques the modern scientific arsenal can provide. One whole arena of this battle to resolve puzzling mysteries about various microorganisms is the almost unbelievable ability of many micro-organisms to live in extreme environments. Whether the challenge is extreme heat, cold, pressure, hyper salinity, alkalinity or acidity, some micro-organisms live now where no life might seem possible. This fascinating state of affairs is the context for this present volume edited by Joseph Seckbach. This Volume is a compilation of many of the especially interesting questions and biological challenges that arise in the consideration of microorganisms in general and the extremophiles in particular.

Life at the Limits

Life at the Limits PDF

Author: David A. Wharton

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2007-07-23

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 1139431943

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We are fascinated by the seemingly impossible places in which organisms can live. There are frogs that freeze solid, worms that dry out and bacteria that survive temperatures over 100 ̊C. What seems extreme to us is, however, not extreme to these organisms. In this captivating account, the reader is taken on a tour of extreme environments, and shown the remarkable abilities of organisms to survive a range of extreme conditions, such as high and low temperatures and desiccation. This book considers how organisms survive major stresses and what extreme organisms can tell us about the origin of life and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. These organisms have an extreme biology, which involves many aspects of their physiology, ecology and evolution.

Polyextremophiles

Polyextremophiles PDF

Author: Joseph Seckbach

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-05-13

Total Pages: 626

ISBN-13: 940076488X

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Many Microorganisms and some macro-organisms can live under extreme conditions. For example, high and low temperature, acidic and alkaline conditions, high salt areas, high pressure, toxic compounds, high level of ionizing radiation, anoxia and absence of light, etc. Many organisms inhabit environments characterized by more than one form of stress (Polyextremophiles). Among them are those who live in hypersaline and alkaline, hot and acidic, cold/hot and high hydrostatic pressure, etc. Polyextremophiles found in desert regions have to copy with intense UV irradiation and desiccation, high as well as low temperatures, and low availability of water and nutrients. This book provides novel results of application to polyextremophiles research ranging from nanotechnology to synthetic biology to the origin of life and beyond.

Life On The Edge

Life On The Edge PDF

Author: Michael Gross

Publisher: Hachette UK

Published: 2008-01-03

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 0465011470

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Can life exist in the Antarctic ice, in the deep subsurface, in dilute sulfuric acid, in hot springs-even on Mars? What degree of high or low temperature, pressure, or salt concentration can living cells tolerate? In recent years, scientists have discovered many single-cell creatures that exist in-in fact, are perfectly adapted to-extreme environments that were considered uninhabitable just one or two decades ago. In Life on the Edge, author Michael Gross explores how microorganisms adapt to their hostile environments and how they affect our current definition of the "normal" conditions for life. He also describes the vast implications of these extremophiles and other amazing creatures-from potential breakthroughs in medicine and biotechnology to the search for life elsewhere in the universe.

Human Physiology in Extreme Environments

Human Physiology in Extreme Environments PDF

Author: Hanns-Christian Gunga

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2020-10-18

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13: 012815943X

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Human Physiology in Extreme Environments, Second Edition, offers evidence on how human biology and physiology is affected by extreme environments, also highlighting technological innovations that allow us to adapt and regulate environments. Covering a broad range of extreme environments, including high altitude, underwater, tropical climates, desert climates, arctic climates and space travel, the book also includes case studies that can be used to illustrate practical application. Graduate students, medical students and researchers will find this to be an interesting, informative and useful resource for human physiology, environmental physiology and medical studies. Includes coverage of current global challenges and their consequences on human physiology and performance Presents human physiological challenges in extreme environments Provides an excellent source of information on paleontological and anthropological aspects Offers practical medical and scientific uses of current concepts

Life in Extreme Environments

Life in Extreme Environments PDF

Author: Ricardo Amils Pibernat

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-07-21

Total Pages: 440

ISBN-13: 1402062850

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This book provides an intriguing look at how life can adapt to many different extreme environments. It addresses the limits for life development and examines different strategies used by organisms to adapt to different extreme environments.

Life at the Extremes

Life at the Extremes PDF

Author: Frances Ashcroft

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2002-03-18

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 9780520234208

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Explores the limits of human survival and the physiological adaptations that enable us to exist under extreme conditions. The author reviews limits to human life underwater, at high altitudes, at high speeds, at micro levels, and at freezing and hot temperatures.

Extremophile Fishes

Extremophile Fishes PDF

Author: Rüdiger Riesch

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-01-24

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 3319133624

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This book summarizes the key adaptations enabling extremophile fishes to survive under harsh environmental conditions. It reviews the most recent research on acidic, Antarctic, cave, desert, hypersaline, hypoxic, temporary, and fast-flowing habitats, as well as naturally and anthropogenically toxic waters, while pointing out generalities that are evident across different study systems. Knowledge of the different adaptations that allow fish to cope with stressful environmental conditions furthers our understanding of basic physiological, ecological, and evolutionary principles. In several cases, evidence is provided for how the adaptation to extreme environments promotes the emergence of new species. Furthermore, a link is made to conservation biology, and how human activities have exacerbated existing extreme environments and created new ones. The book concludes with a discussion of major open questions in our understanding of the ecology and evolution of life in extreme environments.

Algae and Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments

Algae and Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments PDF

Author: Joseph Seckbach

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-09-25

Total Pages: 786

ISBN-13: 1402061110

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This collection of essays is devoted to algae that are unexpectedly found in harsh habitats. The authors explain how these algae thrive in various temperature ranges, extreme pH values, salt solutions, UV radiation, dryness, heavy metals, anaerobic niches, various levels of illumination, and hydrostatic pressure. Not only do the essays provide clues about life on the edges of the Earth, but possibly elsewhere in the universe as well.