Geothermal Habitats and Adaptations of Thermophilic Microbes

In this chapter, the main habitats of thermophiles, their discovery, and ecology are discussed. The focus of the discussion is on natural habitats associated with geothermal activity, their geological origin, and characteristics of different geothermal surface manifestations, including mud pools, solfatara fields, alkaline hot springs, and warm springs. The ecological discussion is primarily focused on strategies that thermophiles utilize to obtain energy.