Weak coupling between sulfate reduction and the anaerobic oxidation of methane in methane-rich seafloor sediments during ex situ incubation

Bowles, Marshall W.; Samarkin, V.; Bowles, Kristian M.; Joye, Samantha B.

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.09.043

Cited by 74 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 88 publications

(95 reference statements)

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“…Substantial AOM rates were sustained across a range of in situ temperatures and seasons (Supplementary Table 1). Surprisingly, AOM rates in the sediments and peat are comparable to those reported for deep-sea methane seeps 22 and coastal marine sediments 7 . These in vitro rate measurements provide some of the first concrete evidence of AOM in FWW 9 ( Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

“…In most samples, SR rates were sufficient to support AOM; SR in excess of AOM was likely fuelled through hydrogenotrophic or heterotrophic mechanisms 34 . Previous studies compared the magnitude of AOM and SR rates to determine how closely the two processes are coupled 22,35 . At depth (49 cm) in Georgia sediments, AOM rates were significantly (Po0.05) higher than SR.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High rates of anaerobic methane oxidation in freshwater wetlands reduce potential atmospheric methane emissions

et al. 2015

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The role of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in wetlands, the largest natural source of atmospheric methane, is poorly constrained. Here we report rates of microbially mediated AOM (average rate ¼ 20 nmol cm À 3 per day) in three freshwater wetlands that span multiple biogeographical provinces. The observed AOM rates rival those in marine environments. Most AOM activity may have been coupled to sulphate reduction, but other electron acceptors remain feasible. Lipid biomarkers typically associated with anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea were more enriched in 13 C than those characteristic of marine systems, potentially due to distinct microbial metabolic pathways or dilution with heterotrophic isotope signals. On the basis of this extensive data set, AOM in freshwater wetlands may consume 200 Tg methane per year, reducing their potential methane emissions by over 50%. These findings challenge precepts surrounding wetland carbon cycling and demonstrate the environmental relevance of an anaerobic methane sink in ecosystems traditionally considered strong methane sources.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High rates of anaerobic methane oxidation in freshwater wetlands reduce potential atmospheric methane emissions

et al. 2015

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“…Sulfatereduction rates determined at such sites often exceeded the rates attributed to anaerobic oxidation of methane by several fold (Bowles et al, 2011), and have been proposed to be due to oxidation of hydrocarbons other than methane, including shortchain alkanes Kallmeyer and Boetius 2004;Orcutt et al, 2005Orcutt et al, , 2010Niemann et al, 2006;Kleindienst et al, 2012). Propane-and butane-degrading sulfate reducers may contribute significantly to the excess sulfate-reduction rates, and could have an important role for the in situ carbon and sulfur cycling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic degradation of propane and butane by sulfate-reducing bacteria enriched from marine hydrocarbon cold seeps

et al. 2012

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The short-chain, non-methane hydrocarbons propane and butane can contribute significantly to the carbon and sulfur cycles in marine environments affected by oil or natural gas seepage. In the present study, we enriched and identified novel propane and butane-degrading sulfate reducers from marine oil and gas cold seeps in the Gulf of Mexico and Hydrate Ridge. The enrichment cultures obtained were able to degrade simultaneously propane and butane, but not other gaseous alkanes. They were cold-adapted, showing highest sulfate-reduction rates between 16 and 20 1C. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene libraries, followed by whole-cell hybridizations with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes showed that each enrichment culture was dominated by a unique phylotype affiliated with the Desulfosarcina-Desulfococcus cluster within the Deltaproteobacteria. These phylotypes formed a distinct phylogenetic cluster of propane and butane degraders, including sequences from environments associated with hydrocarbon seeps. Incubations with 13 C-labeled substrates, hybridizations with sequence-specific probes and nanoSIMS analyses showed that cells of the dominant phylotypes were the first to become enriched in 13 C, demonstrating that they were directly involved in hydrocarbon degradation. Furthermore, using the nanoSIMS data, carbon assimilation rates were calculated for the dominant cells in each enrichment culture.

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“…These samples from MC118 reflected the natural pelagic background seep community that is endemic to this area where the deepwater hydrocarbon plume dispersed some 6-8 weeks later. In general, MC118 seeps are characterized by natural gas and oil discharge, chemosynthetic communities including Beggiatoa (Lloyd et al, 2010), methane-ice worms, and chemosymbiotic mussels and clams, indicating high hydrocarbon fluxes and high background rates of microbial activity (Bowles et al 2011).…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse, rare microbial taxa responded to the Deepwater Horizon deep-sea hydrocarbon plume

et al. 2015

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The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil well blowout generated an enormous plume of dispersed hydrocarbons that substantially altered the Gulf of Mexico's deep-sea microbial community. A significant enrichment of distinct microbial populations was observed, yet, little is known about the abundance and richness of specific microbial ecotypes involved in gas, oil and dispersant biodegradation in the wake of oil spills. Here, we document a previously unrecognized diversity of closely related taxa affiliating with Cycloclasticus, Colwellia and Oceanospirillaceae and describe their spatio-temporal distribution in the Gulf's deepwater, in close proximity to the discharge site and at increasing distance from it, before, during and after the discharge. A highly sensitive, computational method (oligotyping) applied to a data set generated from 454-tag pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene V4-V6 regions, enabled the detection of population dynamics at the sub-operational taxonomic unit level (0.2% sequence similarity). The biogeochemical signature of the deep-sea samples was assessed via total cell counts, concentrations of short-chain alkanes (C 1 -C 5 ), nutrients, (colored) dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, as well as methane oxidation rates. Statistical analysis elucidated environmental factors that shaped ecologically relevant dynamics of oligotypes, which likely represent distinct ecotypes. Major hydrocarbon degraders, adapted to the slow-diffusive natural hydrocarbon seepage in the Gulf of Mexico, appeared unable to cope with the conditions encountered during the DWH spill or were outcompeted. In contrast, diverse, rare taxa increased rapidly in abundance, underscoring the importance of specialized subpopulations and potential ecotypes during massive deep-sea oil discharges and perhaps other large-scale perturbations.

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Weak coupling between sulfate reduction and the anaerobic oxidation of methane in methane-rich seafloor sediments during ex situ incubation

Cited by 74 publications

References 88 publications

High rates of anaerobic methane oxidation in freshwater wetlands reduce potential atmospheric methane emissions

High rates of anaerobic methane oxidation in freshwater wetlands reduce potential atmospheric methane emissions

Anaerobic degradation of propane and butane by sulfate-reducing bacteria enriched from marine hydrocarbon cold seeps

Diverse, rare microbial taxa responded to the Deepwater Horizon deep-sea hydrocarbon plume

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