ASM
WASHINGTON,
DC --Managing microbial activity can play a significant role in
slowing adverse effects of greenhouse gases and other global environmental
changes, according to a new report from the American Society for
Microbiology (ASM).
The report,
"Global Environmental Change: Microbial Contributions, Microbial
Solutions," points out that the basic chemistry of Earth's
surface is determined by biological activity, especially that
of the many trillions of microbes in soil and water. Microbes
make up the majority of the living biomass on Earth and, as such,
have major roles in the recycling of elements vital to life.
Since the
microbial world can contribute to as well as mitigate global change,
its activities are important to understand as a sound basis for
policy decisions and regulations.
"We must
better understand the human-microbe partnership so that environmental
decisions that impact microbial processes will achieve appropriate
balances in the atmosphere and biosphere. Otherwise, we will be
increasingly challenged by unprecedented environmental problems,"
predicts Dr. James M. Tiedje, Michigan State University, an author
of the report who chairs ASM's Committee on Environmental Microbiology.
Microbial
roles in global change include producing and consuming atmospheric
gases that affect climate; mobilizing toxic elements such as mercury,
arsenic and selenium; and producing toxic algal blooms and creating
oxygen depletion zones in lakes, rivers and coastal environments
(eutrophication). Furthermore, the incidence of microbial diseases
such as plague, cholera, Lyme disease, and West Nile Virus are
linked to global change.
The report
makes four recommendations to enhance microbiological solutions
to global change.
--Integrate
understanding of microbiological processes from organism to ecosystem
level. This will lead, in part, to an improved understanding of
the global carbon budget, eutrophication and the changes in greenhouse
gases that affect climate.
--Discover,
characterize and harness the abilities of microbes that transform
the active greenhouse trace gases and toxic elements.
--Establish
multi-year research programs that draw on microbiology and partner
disciplines such as earth and atmospheric sciences to gain an
integrated understanding of complex global change problems.
--Begin training
scientists and policy makers for the future's complex environmental
problems.
Microbiologists
working in broad, multidisciplinary research programs can help
provide answers for a question of fundamental importance: How
can microbial populations and activities be managed to sustain
the biosphere and its diverse life forms while promoting human
welfare?
The report,
produced by ASM's Public and Scientific Affairs Board, can be
accessed online at http://www.asmusa.org/pasrc/pdfs/globalwarming.pdf.
Authors of the report include Dr. Gary M. King, University of
Maine; Dr. David Kirchman, University of Delaware; Dr. Abigail
Salyers, University of Illinois; Dr. William Schlesinger, Duke
University, and Dr. James Tiedje, Michigan State University.
The American
Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society,
composed of over 42,000 scientists, teachers, physicians, and
health professionals. Its mission is to promote research and training
in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between
scientists, policymakers, and the public to improve health, economic
well being, and the environment.
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