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. * Presents a new classification system for bacterial communities based upon their effect and activities, and not their composition * Defines the major types of bacterial communities using a glossary approach and would embrace the major known bacterial structures (e.g. pitting and perforation of steel; ochrous plugging of wells and drains; and the generation of rust) * Provides a new approach using easy-to-follow language allowing non-microbiologists to feel more comfortable in addressing significant bacteriologically-influenced events * Features a broad spectrum approach unlike most