title: Ecology and habitats of extremophiles.
abstract: This review describes the main natural extreme environments, characterized by high temperature, high and low pH and high salinity, that can be colonized by microorganisms. The environments covered are: freshwater alkaline hot springs; acidic solfatara fields; anaerobic geothermal mud and soils; acidic sulphur and pyrite areas; carbonate springs and alkaline soil; and soda and highly saline lakes. The community structure, in terms of available energy sources and representative autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms, is discussed for each type of habitat.
authors.affiliation: , .
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kristjánsson
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Hreggvidsson