About this Research Topic
Microorganisms inhabiting extreme environments face harsh conditions with different strategies, for example the formation of layered microbial communities, biofilms and microbial mats that have been found associated with hot springs, hydrothermal vents, hypersaline lakes and Antarctic Dry valleys. Thus, microbial mats provide great opportunities to study microbial diversity, evolutionary processes and adaptation to extreme environments.
This Research Topic aims to further understanding of the diversity and complexity of microbial mats, specifically of those associated with extreme environments, or environments where conditions fluctuate rapidly. Microbial mats may also have applications for various industrial uses, having been studied for the potential to clean up pollutants and waste such as oil spills.
Subjects of interest include but are not limited to:
• Microbial diversity and interactions of microbial mats found in extreme environments, describing community composition;
• Adaptation mechanisms for survival in extreme or rapidly fluctuating conditions;
• Analyzing metabolic traits and novel enzymes within such microbial communities;
• Assessing the biotechnological applications of microbial mats.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, Methods and Opinion articles.
This Research Topic aims to further understanding of the diversity and complexity of microbial mats, specifically of those associated with extreme environments, or environments where conditions fluctuate rapidly. Microbial mats may also have applications for various industrial uses, having been studied for the potential to clean up pollutants and waste such as oil spills.
Subjects of interest include but are not limited to:
• Microbial diversity and interactions of microbial mats found in extreme environments, describing community composition;
• Adaptation mechanisms for survival in extreme or rapidly fluctuating conditions;
• Analyzing metabolic traits and novel enzymes within such microbial communities;
• Assessing the biotechnological applications of microbial mats.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, Methods and Opinion articles.
Keywords: microbial mat, biofilm, microbial communities, extreme microbiology, extreme environments, Antarctica, hypersaline
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
