Microbiota: the living foundation

Mudflats are highly productive regions that are important to local, regional and global aspects of ecology and biogeochemistry. They sequester organic carbon, recycle nutrient elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus, release climate-active gases to the atmosphere, and provide sustenance to countless resident and migrant animals. Microorganisms that remain hidden from sight underpin all of these, and many other, crucial ecosystem functions and services. This chapter explores the roles of microorganisms in mudflat sediments, their interactions with the other residents, and some of the contemporary techniques used to study and quantify the ways in which they influence biogeochemical cycles.