Introduction to Geobiology

An introduction to how microbial life has colonized and shaped the Earth, turning it into the habitable planet of today Exploring the geological basis for life on Earth, Introduction to Geobiology systematically examines the interaction between the geosphere and the biosphere, including its evolutionary history. In this didactically written text, readers will learn about the various modes of interaction between living and inorganic environments, emphasizing the geological significance of metabolism and the basis of life in extreme environments, the geobiological role and geological record of microbial ecosystems, and the material and energy cycles between the geosphere and the biosphere. The book also explores the geological imprint of biological processes such as biomineralization, biosedimentary diagenesis, and biological weathering of minerals and rocks, as well as the co-evolution process between organisms and the environment. Based on a highly successful course taught by the authors for more than 20 years, Introduction to Geobiology includes information on: Domains and kingdoms of cellular life, classification of organisms according to their metabolism Ecological and metabolic diversity in marine and terrestrial environments, including extreme environments Using microbial ecosystems as a model for exploring life beyond earth Oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and iron cycles Bioerosion, macroborers and microborers, biological and lichen weathering, and soil development Introduction to Geobiology is an excellent textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate students in geology or microbiology seeking to learn about geobiology and the origin of life on Earth. It also provides a strong foundation for the study of astrobiology: the conditions under which life on other planets may develop.

Table of Contents:
1 Biological diversity: A geobiological perspective 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Classification of biological entities 1.2.1 Acellular life 1.2.2 Domains of cellular life 1.2.3 Kingdoms of cellular Life 1.3 Diversity of biological metabolism 1.3.1 Metabolic classification of organisms 1.3.2 Photosynthesis 1.3.3 Nitrogen fixation 1.3.4 Chemolithotrophy: energy from oxidation of inorganics 1.3.5 Catabolism 2 Life in extreme environments 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Diversity of extreme environments and extremophiles 2.2.1 Extreme environments 2.2.2 Phylogenic diversity of extremophiles 2.3 Thermophiles 2.4 Psychrophiles 2.5 Acidophiles 2.6 Alkaliphiles 2.7 Halophiles 2.8 Xerophilies 2.9 Radiodurans 2.10 Barophiles 2.11 Tardigrades as a model animal for astrobiology 3 Microbial ecosystems 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 From cell to microbial communities 3.1.2 Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) 3.1.3 Preservation potential 3.2 Biofilms and Microbial mats 3.2.1. Biofilms 3.2.2 Microbial mats 3.3 Microbial Ecosystem on Earth 3.3.1 Microbial ecosystem in marine settings 3.3.2 Microbial ecosystem in terrestrial settings 3.3.3 Microbial ecosystem in other extreme settings 3.4 Microbial Ecosystem as a model for exploring life beyond 4 Earth as a system and biogeochemical cycles 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Earth system: an overview 4.2.1 A system approach 4.2.2 Energy flows of the Earth system 4.2.3 Three key traits of the Earth system 4.3 Biogeochemical cycles 4.3.1 Concept 4.3.2 Element abundance 4.3.3 Carbon cycle 4.3.4 Oxygen cycle 4.3.5 Nitrogen cycle 4.3.6 Sulfur cycle 4.3.7 Phosphorus cycle 4.3.8 Iron cycle 4.4 Major features of biogeochemical cycles 4.4.1 Diversity of pathways 4.4.2 Variable rates of cycling 4.4.3 The effects of human activity 5 Biomineralization and its origin 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Biominerals and organominerals 5.2.1 Concept and unique characteristics 5.2.2 Major Groups of Biominerals 5.3 Classification of Biomineralization 5.3.1 Biologically Influenced Mineralization (BFM) 5.3.2 Biologically Induced Mineralization (BIM) 5.3.3 Biologically Controlled Mineralization (BCM) 5.4 Principle of Biomineralization 5.4.1 Supersaturation and Nucleation 5.4.2 Amorphous Phase and Solidification 5.4.3 Hierarchical Organization 5.4.4 Genetic and Molecular System 5.4.5 Benefits and Costs 5.4.6 Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Biomineralization 5.5 Origin and Evolution of Biomineralization 5.5.1 History of Biomineralization Pathways 5.5.2 On the Origin of Animal Skeletons 5.5.3 Controls on the Onset of Biomineralization 5.5.4 Cambrian Animal Skeletonization: Insights from Molluscs 5.6 Releasing Biomineralization Signatures from Fossils 5.6.1 Diagenesis, Permineralization, and Phosphatization 5.6.2 Recognizing Primary Biomineral Structures 5.6.3 Biomineralization in Phylogenetic Systematics 5.6.4 Skeletal Sediments and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction 6 Biosedimentation 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Biogenic sediments 6.2.1 Carbonates 6.2.2 Siliceous sediments 6.2.3 Phosphatic sediments 6.2.4 Iron sediments 6.3. Biological diagenesis 6.3.1 Biogeochemical zonation of sediment column 6.3.2 Diagenetic mineralization 6.4 Microbially induced sedimentary structures 6.4.1 Definition 6.4.2 Classification 6.4.3 Biological processes in MISS formation 6.4.4 Distribution and Preservation 6.5 Astrobiological implications 7 Bioerosion and Biological Weathering 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Bioerosion 7.2.1 Macroborers 7.2.2 External Grazers and Scrapers (raspers) 7.2.3 Microborers 7.3 Biological Weathering 7.3.1 Biological Mechanisms that Enhance Rock Weathering 7.3.2 Biological Weathering of Silicate Minerals and Rocks 7.3.3 Carbonate Weathering 7.3.4 Sulfide Mineral Oxidation 7.3.5 Insight into Lichen Weathering 7.4 Soil as a classic system of biological weathering 7.4.1 Soil development 7.4.2 Horizons of soil profile 7.4.3 Humus in soils 8 Co-evolution of life and environment 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Earth�s earliest records and habitability 8.3. Evolution of atmosphere 8.4. Evolution of the ocean 8.5. Evolution of biosphere 8.6. A summary: 4 billion years of co-evolution to one intelligent species 9 Exploring Extraterrestrial Life 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Habitability and Habitable Zone 9.3 Potentially Habitable Worlds Beyond Earth 9.4 Detecting Life beyond Earth 9.4.1 Life Detection 9.4.2 Biosignatures 9.4.3 Case Studies 9.5 Lessons from Explorations

About the Author :
Xingliang Zhang, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China. Zisheng Guo, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China. Wei Liu, Northwest University Museum, Northwest University, Xi'an, China. Ruliang He, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China. Luoyang Li, College of Marine Geosciences, Ocan University of China, Qingdao, China. Weiduo Hao, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.