Scope

Aquatic Microbiology is devoted to advancing the study of microbes in aqueous environments, with a focus on freshwater, estuarine and oceanic ecosystems. Aquatic microbiological studies are diverse and inherently interdisciplinary. Microorganisms play diverse roles in ecosystems, and are key to earth’s biogeochemical cycles and the habitability of the planet. Further, aquatic microbes are genetically, physiologically and ecologically diverse and exhibit many different patterns of evolution, adaptation and physiological responses. Frontiers aims to accelerate the field by publishing high quality research findings relating to the roles that bacteria, archaea, microbial eukarya and their viruses play in aquatic chemistry, food webs, and biogeochemical cycling.

Laboratory experiments with cultures or mixed populations and environmental experiments are complementary and necessary for advancing our understanding of aquatic microorganisms and their interactions with the environment. Studies of physiological, genetic, genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic aspects of aquatic microorganisms in the environment and communities (e.g., metagenomics) are making important contributions to the advancement of aquatic microbiology. New techniques in visualization, isotopic tracers and molecular techniques are providing new knowledge on the nature of microbial communities in the environment. Aquatic Microbiology will accept manuscripts on these topics, as well as new method developments, reviews and perspectives.

Studies focused on the interaction between microbes and animals should be submitted to the Microbial Symbioses section, or, in the case of domesticated animals, to the Veterinary Science journal. For interactions between microbes and humans, see the Infectious Diseases section and similarly, studies focusing on virus host interactions should see the Virology section.

Research involving microbially-mediated degradation processes of toxic compounds or wastewater treatment studies, should be submitted to the Microbiotechnology section. Work reporting on the genome of a single species should be submitted to Evolutionary and Genomic Microbiology, whereas Aquatic Microbiology will consider genomic studies at a microbial population level. Studies on microbial processes in wetlands should be submitted to Terrestrial Microbiology.

Submission

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