Modeling of Microbial Communities: Theory and Practice

Microbial communities are the groups of microorganisms that live together in a given environment. The microbial populations that make up these communities interact in a variety of ways, such as symbiosis, competition and predation. The diversity of microbial communities encompasses the abundance and quantity distribution of various kinds of organisms in a particular ecosystem. These communities consist of a wide range of biodiversity existing on the Earth. They play an important role in ecosystem functioning, including xenobiotic degradation, decomposition of organic matter and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. Computational models of interacting microbes are used for understanding the functioning and dynamics of microbial communities. Modeling also plays an integral role in connecting biogeochemical processes to specific microbial metabolic pathways. This book unfolds the innovative aspects of microbial community modeling which will be crucial for the prediction of microbial interactions in the future. It aims to equip students and experts with the advanced topics and upcoming concepts in this area of study.