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Ecology of Protozoa

The Biology of Free-living Phagotrophic Protists

  • Highlights the importance of protozoa in natural ecosystems
  • Fully revised and updated 2nd edition
  • 1st edition cited over 1,000 times
  • Written for ecologists and protozoologists alike

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. What Is a Protozoon?

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 1-14
  3. Motility: Life in Syrup

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 15-22
  4. Orientation in the Environment

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 23-31
  5. Feeding

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 33-54
  6. Bioenergetics

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 55-62
  7. Polymorphic Life Histories and Sex

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 63-69
  8. The Niches of Protozoa

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 71-86
  9. Symbiosis

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 87-105
  10. Marine Habitats

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 107-131
  11. Protozoan Communities in Freshwater Habitats

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 133-155
  12. Protozoan Communities: Terrestrial Habitats

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 157-174
  13. Symbiotic Protozoa

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 175-179
  14. Concluding Remarks

    • Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel
    Pages 181-182
  15. Back Matter

    Pages 183-186

About this book

This book emphasises the important role that protozoa play in many natural eco­systems. To shed new light on their individual adaptive skills, the respective chapters examine the ecology and functional biology of this diverse group of eukaryotic microbes. Protozoa are well-established model organisms that exemplify many general problems in population ecology and community ecology, as well as evolutionary biology. Their particular characteristics, like large population sizes, life cycles and motile sensory behaviour, have a profound impact on their survival, distribution, and interaction with other species. Thus, readers will also be introduced to protozoan habitats in a broad range of environments. 

  

Even though this group of unicellular organisms is highly diverse, the authors focus on shared ecological patterns. Students and scientists working in the areas of eukaryotic microbiology and ecology will appreciate this updated and revised 2nd Edition as a valuable reference guide to the “lifestyles” of protozoa. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK

    Genoveva F. Esteban

  • Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Tom M. Fenchel

About the authors

Genoveva Esteban is a Professor of Microbial Ecology at Bournemouth University (UK). She received her PhD from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) in 1989 and carried out two post-doctoral positions: one at the National Scientific Research Council in Spain (1990-1991), and the second (1992-1995) at the Institute of Freshwater Ecology (The Ferry House, Windermere, UK).  She then became employed as a senior scientist at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, UK) until 2007. That same year, she moved to the university sector to work at Queen Mary University of London (2007-2011).  She has published over 110 original articles and book chapters. Her research expertise is centered on free-living microbial eukaryotes.


Tom Fenchel is Emeritus Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark).  He received his Ph.D. in 1965 and became employed at the Marine Biological Laboratory as lecturer. From 1970-1987 he became FullProfessor at the University of Aarhus and he returned to the University of Copenhagen in 1987 until formal retirement in 2010. He has published about 200 original papers on microbial ecology and population biology and has authored or co-authored five books.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Ecology of Protozoa

  • Book Subtitle: The Biology of Free-living Phagotrophic Protists

  • Authors: Genoveva F. Esteban, Tom M. Fenchel

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59979-9

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-59978-2Published: 05 January 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-59981-2Published: 06 January 2022

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-59979-9Published: 04 January 2021

  • Edition Number: 2

  • Number of Pages: X, 186

  • Number of Illustrations: 49 b/w illustrations, 24 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Microbial Ecology, Eukaryotic Microbiology, Freshwater & Marine Ecology

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access