AME is international and interdisciplinary. It presents rigorously refereed and carefully selected Research Articles, Reviews and Notes, as well as Comments/Reply Comments (for details see AME 27:209), Opinion Pieces (previously called 'As I See It') and AME Specials. For details consult the Guidelines for Authors. Papers may be concerned with: Tolerances and responses of microorganisms to variations in abiotic and biotic components of their environment; microbial life under extreme environmental conditions (climate, temperature, pressure, osmolarity, redox, etc.). Role of aquatic microorganisms in the production, transformation and decomposition of organic matter; flow patterns of energy and matter as these pass through microorganisms; population dynamics; trophic interrelationships; modelling, both theoretical and via computer simulation, of individual microorganisms and microbial populations; biodiversity. Absorption and transformation of inorganic material; synthesis and transformation of organic material (autotrophic and heterotrophic); non-genetic and genetic adaptation; behaviour; molecular microbial ecology; symbioses.