Microbes are essential for the functioning of ecological systems. Vital microbial processes rely in the complex interaction of specific microbial communities with the surrounding environment. Therefore, microbial survival will depend on the physiology and biochemistry of that interacting community. The unifying research objectives of Physiology of environmentally conditioned microbiota team are to achieve a better understanding of microbial abundance, distribution, community’s dynamics and how these communities function and are controlled.