Reviews the three kingdoms of life (Archea, Eubacteria and Eukarya) from molecular evolutionary levels to ecological aspects in enigmatic habitats, including general reviews of puzzling pro-and eukaryotic organisms and their domains.
In the beginning - origin and evolution of the first cells; enigmatic micro-organisms; the versatile extension of life; microorganisms in extreme environments; effect of subsatnces, gases and irradiations; living together - symbiosis.
It is a good reference source for traditional extreme habitats and also provides many novel topics, such as lab-induced endosymbiosis, and good review chapters on basic physiology and metabolism. (European Journal of Phycology, 36 (2001)