Microbial ecology in natural and engineered environments; Microbial degradation of xenobiotic compounds; Microbial processes in biogeochemical cycles; Microbial interactions and signaling with animals and plants; Interactions among microorganisms; Microorganisms related to public health; Phylogenetic and functional diversity of microbial communities; Genomics, metagenomics, and bioinformatics for microbiology; Application of microorganisms to agriculture, fishery, and industry; Molecular biology and biochemistry related to environmental microbiology; Methodology in general and environmental microbiology; Interdisciplinary research areas for microbial ecology (e.g., Astrobiology, and Origins of Life); Taxonomic description of novel microorganisms with ecological perspective; Physiology and metabolisms of microorganisms; Evolution of genes and microorganisms; Genome report of microorganisms with ecological perspective.