Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community
Soil-to-atmosphere methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) fluxes are dependent on opposing microbial processes of production and consumption. Here we use a soil–vegetation gradient in an Australian sub-alpine ecosystem to examine links between composition of soil microbial communities, and the fluxes...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/3/606 |
| _version_ | 1797541246264147968 |
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| author | Marshall D. McDaniel Marcela Hernández Marc G. Dumont Lachlan J. Ingram Mark A. Adams |
| author_facet | Marshall D. McDaniel Marcela Hernández Marc G. Dumont Lachlan J. Ingram Mark A. Adams |
| author_sort | Marshall D. McDaniel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil-to-atmosphere methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) fluxes are dependent on opposing microbial processes of production and consumption. Here we use a soil–vegetation gradient in an Australian sub-alpine ecosystem to examine links between composition of soil microbial communities, and the fluxes of greenhouse gases they regulate. For each soil/vegetation type (forest, grassland, and bog), we measured carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes and their production/consumption at 5 cm intervals to a depth of 30 cm. All soils were sources of CO<sub>2</sub>, ranging from 49 to 93 mg CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Forest soils were strong net sinks for CH<sub>4</sub>, at rates of up to −413 µg CH<sub>4</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Grassland soils varied, with some soils acting as sources and some as sinks, but overall averaged −97 µg CH<sub>4</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Bog soils were net sources of CH<sub>4</sub> (+340 µg CH<sub>4</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>). Methanotrophs were dominated by USCα in forest and grassland soils, and <i>Candidatus</i> Methylomirabilis in the bog soils. <i>Methylocystis</i> were also detected at relatively low abundance in all soils. Our study suggests that there is a disproportionately large contribution of these ecosystems to the global soil CH<sub>4</sub> sink, which highlights our dependence on soil ecosystem services in remote locations driven by unique populations of soil microbes. It is paramount to explore and understand these remote, hard-to-reach ecosystems to better understand biogeochemical cycles that underpin global sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:13:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a176df01a024d88ab6bfe8b63185b45 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:13:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a176df01a024d88ab6bfe8b63185b452023-11-21T10:36:27ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-03-019360610.3390/microorganisms9030606Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial CommunityMarshall D. McDaniel0Marcela Hernández1Marc G. Dumont2Lachlan J. Ingram3Mark A. Adams4Centre for Carbon Water and Food, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, University of Sydney, Brownlow Hill 2570, AustraliaDepartment of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35037 Marburg, GermanyDepartment of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35037 Marburg, GermanyCentre for Carbon Water and Food, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, University of Sydney, Brownlow Hill 2570, AustraliaCentre for Carbon Water and Food, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, University of Sydney, Brownlow Hill 2570, AustraliaSoil-to-atmosphere methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) fluxes are dependent on opposing microbial processes of production and consumption. Here we use a soil–vegetation gradient in an Australian sub-alpine ecosystem to examine links between composition of soil microbial communities, and the fluxes of greenhouse gases they regulate. For each soil/vegetation type (forest, grassland, and bog), we measured carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes and their production/consumption at 5 cm intervals to a depth of 30 cm. All soils were sources of CO<sub>2</sub>, ranging from 49 to 93 mg CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Forest soils were strong net sinks for CH<sub>4</sub>, at rates of up to −413 µg CH<sub>4</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Grassland soils varied, with some soils acting as sources and some as sinks, but overall averaged −97 µg CH<sub>4</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Bog soils were net sources of CH<sub>4</sub> (+340 µg CH<sub>4</sub> m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>). Methanotrophs were dominated by USCα in forest and grassland soils, and <i>Candidatus</i> Methylomirabilis in the bog soils. <i>Methylocystis</i> were also detected at relatively low abundance in all soils. Our study suggests that there is a disproportionately large contribution of these ecosystems to the global soil CH<sub>4</sub> sink, which highlights our dependence on soil ecosystem services in remote locations driven by unique populations of soil microbes. It is paramount to explore and understand these remote, hard-to-reach ecosystems to better understand biogeochemical cycles that underpin global sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/3/60616S rRNAcarbon dioxidemethanemethanotrophmethanogenMethylomirabilis |
| spellingShingle | Marshall D. McDaniel Marcela Hernández Marc G. Dumont Lachlan J. Ingram Mark A. Adams Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community Microorganisms 16S rRNA carbon dioxide methane methanotroph methanogen Methylomirabilis |
| title | Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community |
| title_full | Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community |
| title_fullStr | Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community |
| title_short | Disproportionate CH<sub>4</sub> Sink Strength from an Endemic, Sub-Alpine Australian Soil Microbial Community |
| title_sort | disproportionate ch sub 4 sub sink strength from an endemic sub alpine australian soil microbial community |
| topic | 16S rRNA carbon dioxide methane methanotroph methanogen Methylomirabilis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/3/606 |
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