Beyond boxes and arrows: Putting the ?bio? into biogeochemistry

Abstract

The Gaia hypothesis proposes that the earth can be viewed as a single living entity. While this idea remains controversial, there is no doubt that the biotic and abiotic components of the earth are intimately linked in complex webs of chemical reactions collectively described as biogeochemistry. Microbes are the catalysts of most such reactions, but despite their importance, there is a tendency to oversimplify microbial contributions using boxes (compounds) and arrows (reactions). In this brief review, I will highlight recent research that looks beyond the boxes and arrows to the microbes themselves, and describe some examples where the activities of biogeochemical microbes and enzymes have been harnessed for environmental benefits.