This course will introduce you to the significance of microbiomes in natural and managed ecosystems: where microbiomes are found, what their constituents are, and how they shape ecosystem form and function on planet Earth. This course will introduce the significance of microorganisms in our world and the similarities and differences of microbiomes depending on the ecosystem in which they are found. It will explore how various ecosystems shape the microbiome that develops, and how understanding the microbiomes in agricultural systems can facilitate better food, fiber, feed, fuel production, and water management.