“Althoughmostpeopleareawarethatbacteriaareallaroundus,fewwouldguessthattheyproducesuchdistinctiveandaccessiblesigns.Whetheryou’rewalkingonthebeach,visitingazoooraquarium,buyinggroceries,lookingforfossils,drinkingbeer,traipsingthroughaswamp,orcleaningscumfrombeneathadrippingoutdoorfaucet,you’resurroundedbybacterialfieldmarks.Youdon’tneedalaboratoryorfancyequipmenttofindoutwhatkindofbacteriaarethere--thisguidewilltellyouhow.“--fromtheIntroductionBacteriaareanintegralaspectofeveryhabitatinwhichtheyoccurandaffectthelivesofhumans,otheranimals,andplantsinmanyways.Toooften,weequate“bacterium“with“pathogen“andthinkofbacteriaasthingstoavoid.Inafascinatingguideperfectfornaturalists,students,teachers,andtouristsalike,BetseyDexterDyerletsthereaderknowthatitispossibletoobservebacteriawithallthesenses.Manygroupsofbacteriacanbeeasilyidentifiedinthefield(orintherefrigerator)withoutamicroscope.Writtenforcurioussoulsofallages,AFieldGuidetoBacteriaopensoureyes--andnosesandears--tothishidden(orneglected)worldaroundus.Usefulillustrations,including120colorphotographs,accompanyDyer’slivelytextthroughout.
