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Aerobiology: The Atmosphere as a Source and Sink for Microbes

  • Conference paper
Microbial Ecology of Leaves

Part of the book series: Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience ((BROCK/SPRINGER))

Abstract

It is well known that microbes can be carried on the wind from one leaf to another, whether those leaves are centimeters or hundreds of kilometers apart. Each step in the dispersal sequence, take-off—transport—deposition, is influenced by atmospheric behavior. For leaves where takeoff is occurring, the atmosphere is a sink; conversely, where landing is occurring, it is a source. In this chapter we will review our understanding of the influences of atmospheric behavior on passive dispersal of windborne microbes. Neither dispersal involving vectors such as insects and humans, nor active dispersal such as the discharge of fungal spores into the air from fruiting bodies is considered. Most research has been concerned with microbes that cause disease in crop plants but many of the results should be applicable to other organisms, such as pollen and yeasts.

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  1. David E. Pedgley
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Pathology Russell Laboratories, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    John H. Andrews  & Susan S. Hirano  & 

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Pedgley, D.E. (1991). Aerobiology: The Atmosphere as a Source and Sink for Microbes. In: Andrews, J.H., Hirano, S.S. (eds) Microbial Ecology of Leaves. Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3168-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3168-4_3

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