For microbiology and environmental microbiology courses, this leading textbook builds on the academic success of the previous edition in recent years. Compared to alternate texts, this second edition provides practical applications of core lab methods and a solid focus on microbes as elements in waste, pollution, pathology and environmental management. The authors and editors have taken care to highlight the links between environmental microbiology and topics important to our changing world such as bioterrorism and national security with sections on practical issues such as bioremediation, waterborne pathogens, microbial risk assessment, and environmental biotechnology.