Biogeochemistry and Ecology of Extreme Microbial Habitats

Many studies in environmental microbiology begin by surveying microbial habitats and collecting samples. However, these surveys often serve only as a prelude to lab-based experiments, genomic analyses, or biogeochemical measurements, leaving the environments themselves underexplored.In this Research Topic, we put a spotlight on extreme microbial habitats as subjects worthy of detailed investigation in their own right. We invite studies that conduct comprehensive, polyphasic surveys of unique environments—integrating in-situ measurements of chemical and physical conditions, spatial distribution patterns, temporal dynamics, and microbial community composition. Examples include high-resolution studies of microbial mats, detailed mapping of terrestrial hot spring systems or deep-sea hydrothermal vents, investigations of marine and estuarine salinity gradients, analyses of habitats shaped by seasonal changes, work on well-characterized redox interfaces, studies of nutrient and substrate gradients, or examinations of dynamically changing bioremediation sites.For environmental microbiologists with detailed knowledge of their study sites, this collection offers a platform to share rich, site-specific insights that are often compressed into brief descriptions or relegated to supplementary materials. Our goal is to restore a strong sense of place to microbial field research—an essential perspective for understanding microbial resilience, adaptation, and survival in their natural environments. Topic editors: Andreas Teske, Virginia P Edgcomb Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/72663/biogeochemistry-and-ecology-of-extreme-microbial-habitats