Published nearly ten years ago, the first edition of Practical Atlas for Bacterial Identification broke new ground with the wealth of detail and breadth of information it provided. The second edition is poised to do the same. Differing fundamentally from the first edition, this book begins by introducing the concept of bacteria community intelligence as reflected in corrosion, plugging, and shifts in the quality parameters in the product whether it be water, gas, oil, or even air. It presents a new classification system for bacterial communities based upon their effect and activities, and not their composition.

The book represents a radical departure from the classical reductionist identification of bacteria dominated by genetic and biochemical analyses of separated strains. The author takes a holistic approach based on form, function, and habitat of communities (consorms) of bacteria in real environments. He uses factors related to the oxidation-reduction potential at the site where the consorm is active and the viscosity of the bound water within that consorm to position their community structures within a two-dimensional bacteriological positioning system (BPS) that then allows the functional role to be defined. This book has an overarching ability to define bacterial activities as consorms in a very effective and applied manner useful to an applied audience involved in bacterial challenges.

Organized for ease of use, the book allows readers to start with the symptom, uncover the bacterial activities, and then indentify the communities distinctly enough to allow management and control practices that minimize the damage. The broad spectrum approach, new to this edition, lumps compatible bacteria together into a relatively harmonious consortia that share a common primary purpose. It gives a big picture view of the role of bacteria not as single strains but collectively as communities and uses this information to provide key answers to common bacterial problems.

Bacterial Communities by Location and Function
Introduction to Layering of Bacterial Communities
Factors Significantly Influencing Bacterial Activities and Nutrient Cycles
Bacteria: Human Perspectives
Common Bacteriologically Initiated Events
Historical Overview
Challenges of Classifying ¿Unculturables"
Evolutionary Trends toward Bacterial Diversity
Two-Dimensional Grid Definition of Bacterial Communities
Establishment of Grid Location Points for Bacterial Atlas
Summary of Bacterial Community Grid Positioning Atlas Principles
Bacteria Are Everywhere
Classification of Alpha Groups of Bacterial Consorms
Historical Overview
Definitions of Alpha-Based Bacterial Consortia
Alpha One: Bionucleating Dispersed Consorms [FPL (FMV:FCP) 22-04]
Alpha Two: Organic Bioconcreting Consorms [FPL (FMV:FCP) 22-16]
Alpha Three: Inorganic Bioconcreting Consorms [FPL (FMV:FCP) 13-21)
Alpha Four: Carbon-Reducing Consorms [FPL (FMV:FCP) 06-27]
Alpha Five: Carbon-Oxidizing Consorms [FPL (FMV:FCP) 13-07]
Alpha Six: Hyperbaric Dispersed Bionucleating Consorms [FPL (FMV:FCP) 01-03]
Summary
Preliminary Differentiation of Alpha Bacterial Consorms
Introduction
Alpha One: Bionucleating Dispersed Consorms (FPL 1, 22-04)
Alpha Two: Organic Bionucleating Consorms (FPL 2, 22-16) 
Alpha Three: Inorganic Bionucleating Consorms (FPL 3, 13-21) 
Alpha Four: Carbon-Reducing Consorms (FPL 4, 06-27)
Alpha Five: Carbon-Oxidizing Consorms (FPL 5, 13-07)
Alpha Six: Hyperbaric Dispersed Bionucleating Consorms (FPL 6 ¿ 01-03)
Environmental Dynamics of Bacterial Consorms
Introduction
Defining Bacteriologically Dominated Consorms
Categorization of Consorms
Bacterial Consormial Challenges
Introduction
Identification of Consorms
Determining Probability of Consormial Activity
Symptoms of Consormial Intrusions
Quantification of Consormial Intrusions into Environment
Causes and Effects of Consorm Intrusions in Impacted Environment
Consorm Sampling Protocols
Detailed Identification of Bacterial Consorms
Introduction
Defining Bacterial Consorms by Form, Function, and Habitat 
Biochemical Methods for Identification of Consorms
Introduction
Determination of Consormial Activity by ATP Analysis
RASI Protocol for Determining Potential ATP Activity
Identifying Bacterial Consorms Using BART
Introduction
Development of BART to Determine Bacterial Activity
BART Set-Up
Red Cap: Iron-Related Bacteria (IRB BART)
Black Cap: Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB BART)
Lime Green Cap: Slime-Forming Bacteria (SLYM BART)
Dark Blue Cap: Heterotrophic Bacteria (HAB BART)
Grey Cap: Denitrifying Bacteria (DN BART)
White Cap: Nitrifying Bacteria (N BART)
Purple Cap: Acid-Producing Bacteria (APB BART)
Yellow Cap: Fluorescent Pseudomonad Bacteria (FLOR BART)
Comparison of BART and Other Bacteriological Enumeration Methods
Introduction to Grid-Formatted Bacteriological Atlas
Focal Point Locations for Bacterial Consorms
Differentiation of Grid Atlas into Six Major Consormial Groups
Alpha One: Bionucleating Dispersed Consorms
Alpha Two: Organic Bionucleating Consorms
Alpha Three: Inorganic Bioconcreting Consorms
Alpha Four: Carbon Reducing Consorms
Alpha Five: Carbon Oxidizing Consorms
Alpha Six: Hyperbaric Dispersed Bionucleating Consorms
Differentiation of Major Consorms by Grid Positions and BART Reactions
Defining Bacterial Consorms in Gridded Atlas Format
Introduction
Basic fmv: fcP Grid
Limitations of Animal Habitats on Gridded Atlas
Limitations of Plant Habitats on Gridded Atlas
Dominant Prokaryotic Consormial Domains
Dominant Microbiological Eukaryotic Domains
Bacterial Consorms Associated with Plant Activities
Bacterial Consorms Associated with Non-Herbivoral Intestinal Streaming
Bacterial Consorms Involved in Spoilage of Foods
Mammalian Consormial Non-Enteric Pathogens on Gridded Atlas
Bacterial Consorms Associated with Water Quality Issues
Bacterial Consorms Involved in Oil, Gas, and Coal Production in Geological Media
Bacterial Consormial Interceptors in Upward Migration of Hydrocarbons
Bacterial Interception of Groundwater Flows in Porous and Fractured Media
Natural Bacteriological Consorms
Introduction
1, 22-03 CLD (Clouds)
1, 16-12 ICE (Ice)
3, 18-25 CCR (Concretions)
3, 18-19 OCR (Ochres)
3, 06-24 PTG (Pitting)
3, 03-19 PFR (Perforation)
2, 09-15 MIC (Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion)
3, 10-21 BPL (Black Plug Layers)
3, 10-27 BBR (¿Blueberries¿)
3 ¿ 19-26 RST (Rusticles)
1, 19-06 FOM (Foam)
3, 15-17 TCL (Tubercles)
3, 18-14 LSL (Lateral Slime Layer)
5. 15-10 GHY (Gas Hydrates)
Culturing Bacterial Consorms
Rehabilitation
Monitoring Methodologies
Suggestions for Further Reading
Appendix A: Alpha Two Traditional Atlas Concept

Roy Cullimore has a PhD in Agricultural Microbiology and went on to develop a number of patents, edited a series of books for CRC Press on Sustainable Water Wells, and has published in the area of applied microbial ecology. Cullimore was involved in deep-ocean research and presently has seven experiments on the RMS Titanic together with experiments on other ship wrecks to determine the rates of decay.