"Microbial Ecology: Culture-dependent Methods" is a comprehensive guide to studying microbial diversity. The book details methods for sampling and characterizing microbes from soil and water, covering both physicochemical and microbiological aspects. It delves into the cultivation, isolation, and preservation of bacteria and archaea, including cryopreservation and freeze-drying. Subsequent chapters focus on molecular techniques like DNA extraction, PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis, along with advanced methods such as MLST, qPCR, and Whole Genome Sequencing. The book also covers sequence deposition and provides protocols for DGGE, making it an invaluable resource for microbial ecologists.