Methane dynamics in an alpine fen: a field-based study on methanogenic and methanotrophic microbial communities

Franchini, Alessandro G.; Henneberger, Ruth; Aeppli, Meret; Zeyer, Josef

doi:10.1093/femsec/fiu032

Cited by 18 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…The results showed that variability in the parameters analyzed was most pronounced in the upper 15 to 20 cm below the water table in these particular fens. At the Oberaar site, composition analysis of methanotrophic and methanogenic communities also confirmed this high variability in the upper soil layers (40). Nevertheless, variations in microbial communities with different dominant species of vascular plants have yet to be investigated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Moreover, the submerged mosses Calliergon sarmentosum and Sphagnum spp. are present in patches (32,40).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior to each sample extraction, the gas in the chamber was mixed by pulling and pushing the piston of the syringe five times. Gas concentrations were measured by gas chromatography (GC) as described previously (40), and emission to the atmosphere was calculated based on the linear regression of accumulated CH 4 inside the chamber (25,41). During each chamber measurement, a clear linear increase in the CH 4 concentration inside the chamber was observed over time (R 2 ϭ 0.967 to 0.999).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In brief, a series of brass tubes (inside diameter [i. (40). The tubes were slowly filled with pore water by using syringes, closed with three-way valves, and equilibrated for at least 1 h. Immediately prior to sampling, the dead volume of the tubes was discarded, and contact of the pore water with air was avoided as much as possible.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies focused mainly on in situ measurements of CH 4 emissions and concentrations in pore water, reporting spatial and seasonal variability in emissions. In particular, two C. rostratadominated, permanently submerged fens in the Swiss Alps, at the Oberaar and the Göschener Alp, have been studied in detail (33,39,40). Analyses of physicochemical pore water properties, and of the abundances of methanotrophs and methanogens in the subsurface along the depth profile, were performed.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Communities in Swiss Alpine Fens Dominated by Carex rostrata and Eriophorum angustifolium

Cheema

Zeyer

Henneberger

2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Vascular plants play a key role in controlling CH 4 emissions from natural wetlands, because they influence CH 4 production, oxidation, and transport to the atmosphere. Here we investigated differences in the abundance and composition of methanotrophic and methanogenic communities in three Swiss alpine fens dominated by different vascular plant species under natural conditions. The sampling locations either were situated at geographically distinct sites with different physicochemical properties but the same dominant plant species (Carex rostrata) or were located within the same site, showing comparable physicochemical pore water properties, but had different plant species (C. rostrata or Eriophorum angustifolium). All three locations were permanently submerged and showed high levels of CH 4 emissions (80.3 to 184.4 mg CH 4 m ؊2 day ؊1 ). Soil samples were collected from three different depths with different pore water CH 4 and O 2 concentrations and were analyzed for pmoA and mcrA gene and transcript abundance and community composition, as well as soil structure. The dominant plant species appeared to have a significant influence on the composition of the active methanotrophic communities (transcript level), while the methanogenic communities differed significantly only at the gene level. Yet no plant species-specific microbial taxa were discerned. Moreover, for all communities, differences in composition were more pronounced with the site (i.e., with different physicochemical properties) than with the plant species. Moreover, depth significantly influenced the composition of the active methanotrophic communities. Differences in abundance were generally low, and active methanotrophs and methanogens coexisted at all three locations and depths independently of CH 4 and O 2 concentrations or plant species.T he atmospheric concentration of the highly potent greenhouse gas methane (CH 4 ) has increased over the past several decades to a current value of ca. 1.8 ppm by volume (ppmv) and is continuing to rise after an apparent stagnation in the early 2000s (1). Natural wetlands are the most important nonanthropogenic CH 4 source, with estimated emissions of 177 to 284 Tg year Ϫ1 , accounting for 26 to 42% of the global CH 4 budget (2). Wetlands in northern high latitudes (north of 45°N) contribute approximately 44.0 to 53.7 Tg CH 4 year Ϫ1 (3). The CH 4 cycle in these environments is driven by microorganisms: methanogenic archaea (methanogens) generate CH 4 in the anoxic zones of the wetland soil as the terminal step of anaerobic degradation of organic matter. These microorganisms represent a monophyletic euryarchaeal lineage and largely utilize hydrogen or carbon dioxide, acetate, or small methylated compounds as substrates (4, 5). On the other hand, a substantial amount of CH 4 generated in wetlands is oxidized before it can reach the atmosphere by aerobic methaneoxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs), which are active mainly at the oxic-anoxic interface (6). These organisms can utilize CH 4 as the sole energy and carbon...

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mentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Moreover, the submerged mosses Calliergon sarmentosum and Sphagnum spp. are present in patches (32,40).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Communities in Swiss Alpine Fens Dominated by Carex rostrata and Eriophorum angustifolium

Cheema

Zeyer

Henneberger

2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Methane and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes from a European Alpine Fen Over the Snow-Free Period

et al. 2015

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Wetlands play an important role in the global carbon cycle and are sources and sinks for the greenhouse gases methane (CH 4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). We provide an in situ study on variability of daytime CH 4 emissions and net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) from a permanently submerged, Carex rostrata dominated Swiss alpine fen over the snow-free period (June-October). Flux chamber measurements were combined with analyses of above-ground biomass and physico-chemical pore water properties. The fen was a net daytime CH 4 source throughout the snow-free period, and emissions varied significantly between the sampling dates, ranging from 3.1±0.9 mg CH 4 m −2 h −1 in October to 8.0± 2.9 mg CH 4 m −2 h −1 in August. The fen was generally a daytime sink for CO 2 , and net CO 2 emission was only observed in late October. Variations in NEE were more pronounced than variations in CH 4 emissions, but both fluxes correlated with changes in green C. rostrata biomass and subsurface temperatures. Methane and CO 2 pore water concentrations also varied significantly over the snow-free period, decreasing and increasing, respectively. These variations were linked to the development of biomass, but CH 4 emissions and NEE were not correlated with the respective pore water concentrations.Keywords Wetlands . Greenhouse gas emissions . Pore water profiles . Carbon cycling . Carex rostrata * Josef Zeyer

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Diurnal Patterns of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Swiss Alpine Fen

et al. 2017

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Diurnal patterns of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) net fluxes were studied in a permanently submerged, Carex rostrata dominated Swiss alpine fen. Fluxes were measured in August and September using static chambers. Methane was emitted at all six time points analysed during each diurnal cycle with little variation between day, night or twilight (8.3 ± 0.8 mg m −2 h −1 in August). The fen was a nighttime CO 2 source (138 ± 46 mg m −2 h −1 ) and generally a daytime CO 2 sink. Uptake of CO 2 varied with light intensity (98 ± 57 to 391 ± 43 mg m −2 h −1 in August), but light saturation of photosynthesis was apparent at low irradiation levels. Emission or uptake of N 2 O was not discerned. In September, CH 4 and CO 2 fluxes were generally lower compared with August, compliant with less green C. rostrata biomass. Diurnal changes in subsurface properties were minor with little influence on the diurnal patterns. Temperature dependency of CH 4 and CO 2 emissions was apparent under controlled conditions using C. rostrata monoliths. In August, the fen showed highest photosynthetic rates and was a net carbon sink (50 mmol m −2 day −1 ), but high CH 4 emissions resulted in the fen being a net source of 250 mmol CO 2 equivalents m −2 day −1 . Keywords Methane . Carbon dioxide . Wetlands . Carex rostrata . Flux chambers * Josef Zeyer

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Methane dynamics in an alpine fen: a field-based study on methanogenic and methanotrophic microbial communities

Cited by 18 publications

References 60 publications

Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Communities in Swiss Alpine Fens Dominated by Carex rostrata and Eriophorum angustifolium

Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Communities in Swiss Alpine Fens Dominated by Carex rostrata and Eriophorum angustifolium

Methane and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes from a European Alpine Fen Over the Snow-Free Period

Diurnal Patterns of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Swiss Alpine Fen

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