The fourth edition of this bestselling text has been rigorously updated to reflect major new discoveries and concepts since the previous edition in 2019. Many sections have been extensively revised with the help of co-authors with expertise in specific fields. This new edition reflects important new findings in Marine Microbiology revealed by further development of high-throughput sequencing, omics and single-cell technologies which have led to major advances in understanding of how the activities, interactions, and functions of marine microbes affect ecosystem processes and global biogeochemical cycles.

Novel pedagogy is designed to aid students’ interest and understanding and encourage exploration of current high-profile research topics, including the physiology of planktonic microbes and their role in ocean processes; the impacts of rising CO2 levels and climate change on microbial community structure and ocean processes; the evolution of viruses, organelles, and eukaryotic life; interactions of microbes with plastic pollution; and emerging diseases of marine life and their control.

This is the only textbook addressing such a broad range of topics in the specific area of Marine Microbiology, now a core topic within broader Marine Science degrees.