The third edition of this bestselling text has been rigorously updated to reflect major new discoveries and concepts since 2011, especially progress due to extensive application of high-throughput sequencing, single cell genomics and analysis of large datasets. Significant advances in understanding the diversity and evolution of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses are discussed and their importance in marine processes is explored in detail.

Now in full colour throughout, all chapters have been significantly expanded, with many new diagrams, illustrations and boxes to aid students' interest and understanding. Novel pedagogy is designed to encourage students to explore current high-profile research topics. Examples include the impacts of rising CO2 levels on microbial community structure and ocean processes, interactions of microbes with plastic pollution, symbiotic interactions, and emerging diseases of marine life.

This is the only textbook addressing such a broad range of topics in the specific area of marine microbiology, now a core topic within broader Marine Science degrees. A Companion Website provides additional online resources for instructors and students, including a summary of key concepts and terminology for each chapter, links to further resources, and flashcards to aid self-assessment.

Dr Colin Munn is Honorary Fellow at the Marine Institute, University of Plymouth. He has a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Birmingham (1971-1974) and was Associate Professor in Microbiology before he retired in 2017. While at Plymouth, Colin was Admissions Tutor for Marine Biology Undergraduate Programmes, Principal Lecturer in Microbiology, and Head of Department of Biological Sciences. He is passionate about teaching the importance of microbes and enabling students to understand the remarkable new discoveries that are revolutionising our understanding of the field, especially in the marine environment. Colin has particular research interests in the interactions between symbiotic and pathogenic microbes and their hosts. He has studied microbial interactions with plants, invertebrate animals, fish, and humans and is a strong advocate of a comparative approach. His recent research has taken him into various aspects of marine microbiology, including microbes in coral health and disease and the effects of environmental stress on microbial community structure in corals and other marine invertebrates.Colin was a Visiting Professor at James Cook University/Australian Institute of Marine Science (2002), St George's University, Grenada (1998-2002), Central University of Venezuela (1985) and University of Victoria, Canada (1981). He is now a member of the review panel for DEFRA, US SeaGrant, US National Science Foundation, Netherlands Polar Foundation, US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. Colin is a referee for Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, ISME Journal of Microbial Ecology, Applied & Environmental Microbiology, Journal of the Marine Biological Association UK, Freshwater Biology, Archives of Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Marine Pollution Bulletin, FEMS Microbiology Ecology.