ABSTRACT
Geomicrobiology should not be equated with microbial ecology or microbial biogeochemistry. Microbial ecology is the study of interrelationships between different microorganisms; among microorganisms, plants, and animals; and between microorganisms and their environment. Microbial biogeochemistry is the study of microbially in uenced geochemical reactions, enzymatically catalyzed or not, and their kinetics. These reactions are often studied in the context of cycling of inorganic and organic matter with an emphasis on environmental mass transfer and energy ow. These subjects overlap to some degree, as shown in Figure 1.1.
