Polar Microbes and Climate Change

Many current extremophile studies have been undertaken on species suited to extreme temperatures. In contrast, thermophiles (hot temperature-loving microbes) have received far more attention than psychrophiles (cold-loving microbes). On the other hand, scientific research on cold-adapted microbes (precisely polar microbes) has surged by a factor of ten in the last decades. Regarding the size of cold habitats, psychrophiles, or cold-loving creatures, thermophiles should outnumber thermophiles because a considerable percentage of the Earth's biosphere never sees temperatures beyond 5°C. Oceans span over three-quarters of the planet, with deep water masses between 2 and 4°C regardless of latitude. In addition to providing a constantly frigid terrestrial habitat, Antarctica also provides an aquatic niche in the surrounding ice that melts throughout the summer. Examples of cold ecosystems include permafrost soils, high alpine soils, cold deserts, cold caverns, marine sediments, snow, glaciers, and sea ice.

This book discusses the different aspects of microbial diversity and their adaptations to extreme polar regions, with a view to their biotechnological exploitation for future research. The chapters cover the complete atlas of up-to-date information. The contents offer molecular diversity and molecular and genetic adaptations of polar inhabitant microbes with a focus on low-temperature-adapted microorganisms. It describes representative groups, the habitats in which they live, and the strategies they employ to cope with the cold. The book will be of interest to all scientists interested in how life copes in deep freezers.

It is warranted to mention that for survival in frigid environments and climate change, these organisms have established specific regulatory mechanisms to overcome environmental cues. Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made to uncover microbial adaptation to anthropogenic activities such as high irradiance, nutritional deprivation, UV-B radiation, heat, cold, desiccation, heavy metals, and radiation. However, studies have opened the doors for a basic understanding of gene regulatory pathways for morphological, physiological, metabolic, and genetic adaptations to various environmental stresses.

Unfortunately, the polar regions' adaptation mechanisms and molecular diversity are primarily unexplored. Even research is scattered for a long time, and researchers are looking for a common platform to have a complete snapshot in one place. Hence, the present book content has been designed to discuss the different aspects of microbial diversity and their adaptations to extreme polar regions for their biotechnological exploitation for future research. In addition, chapters have been designed to deal with the complete atlas of up-to-date information. Hence, the book will offer molecular diversity and molecular and genetic adaptations of polar inhabitant microbes. 

The book will focus on low-temperature-adapted microorganisms. With cutting-edge knowledge, it will describe representative groups, the habitats in which they live, and the strategies they employ to cope with the cold. Furthermore, the book will offer valuable informati