The biology of soil microorganisms with an emphasis on their integrated ecology, physiology, genetics and biotechnological uses in the soil environment. The response of soil microorganisms to soil physical-chemical factors and aspects of nutrient cycling in soil. Current topics also include soil as an environment for microorganisms, microbial evolution, soil microbial biodiversity, gene flow and microbial nucleic acids in soil, microbial survival and activity in soil, metabolism of soil pollutants and metal-microbe interactions. The use of molecular-based methods to study microorganisms in soil. Regulations and guidelines on the biotechnological applications of microorganisms in the soil environment will be discussed. School of Environmental Sciences