Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments
The Gulf of Cádiz is a tectonically active continental margin with over sixty mud volcanoes (MV) documented, some associated with active methane (CH4) seepage. However, the role of prokaryotes in influencing this CH4 release is largely unknown. In two expeditions (MSM1-3 and JC10) seven Gulf of Cádi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1157337/full |
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| author | Gordon Webster Gordon Webster Barry A. Cragg Joachim Rinna Joachim Rinna Andrew J. Watkins Andrew J. Watkins Henrik Sass Andrew J. Weightman R. John Parkes |
| author_facet | Gordon Webster Gordon Webster Barry A. Cragg Joachim Rinna Joachim Rinna Andrew J. Watkins Andrew J. Watkins Henrik Sass Andrew J. Weightman R. John Parkes |
| author_sort | Gordon Webster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Gulf of Cádiz is a tectonically active continental margin with over sixty mud volcanoes (MV) documented, some associated with active methane (CH4) seepage. However, the role of prokaryotes in influencing this CH4 release is largely unknown. In two expeditions (MSM1-3 and JC10) seven Gulf of Cádiz MVs (Porto, Bonjardim, Carlos Ribeiro, Captain Arutyunov, Darwin, Meknes, and Mercator) were analyzed for microbial diversity, geochemistry, and methanogenic activity, plus substrate amended slurries also measured potential methanogenesis and anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). Prokaryotic populations and activities were variable in these MV sediments reflecting the geochemical heterogeneity within and between them. There were also marked differences between many MV and their reference sites. Overall direct cell numbers below the SMTZ (0.2–0.5 mbsf) were much lower than the general global depth distribution and equivalent to cell numbers from below 100 mbsf. Methanogenesis from methyl compounds, especially methylamine, were much higher than the usually dominant substrates H2/CO2 or acetate. Also, CH4 production occurred in 50% of methylated substrate slurries and only methylotrophic CH4 production occurred at all seven MV sites. These slurries were dominated by Methanococcoides methanogens (resulting in pure cultures), and prokaryotes found in other MV sediments. AOM occurred in some slurries, particularly, those from Captain Arutyunov, Mercator and Carlos Ribeiro MVs. Archaeal diversity at MV sites showed the presence of both methanogens and ANME (Methanosarcinales, Methanococcoides, and ANME-1) related sequences, and bacterial diversity was higher than archaeal diversity, dominated by members of the Atribacterota, Chloroflexota, Pseudomonadota, Planctomycetota, Bacillota, and Ca. “Aminicenantes.” Further work is essential to determine the full contribution of Gulf of Cádiz mud volcanoes to the global methane and carbon cycles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:53:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66ec90d3622f4e44b318fc25fe7819e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:53:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-66ec90d3622f4e44b318fc25fe7819e82023-05-24T04:30:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-05-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11573371157337Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sedimentsGordon Webster0Gordon Webster1Barry A. Cragg2Joachim Rinna3Joachim Rinna4Andrew J. Watkins5Andrew J. Watkins6Henrik Sass7Andrew J. Weightman8R. John Parkes9Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomAker BP ASA, Lysaker, NorwaySchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomThe Wales Research and Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Centre (PETIC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomMicrobiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomThe Gulf of Cádiz is a tectonically active continental margin with over sixty mud volcanoes (MV) documented, some associated with active methane (CH4) seepage. However, the role of prokaryotes in influencing this CH4 release is largely unknown. In two expeditions (MSM1-3 and JC10) seven Gulf of Cádiz MVs (Porto, Bonjardim, Carlos Ribeiro, Captain Arutyunov, Darwin, Meknes, and Mercator) were analyzed for microbial diversity, geochemistry, and methanogenic activity, plus substrate amended slurries also measured potential methanogenesis and anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). Prokaryotic populations and activities were variable in these MV sediments reflecting the geochemical heterogeneity within and between them. There were also marked differences between many MV and their reference sites. Overall direct cell numbers below the SMTZ (0.2–0.5 mbsf) were much lower than the general global depth distribution and equivalent to cell numbers from below 100 mbsf. Methanogenesis from methyl compounds, especially methylamine, were much higher than the usually dominant substrates H2/CO2 or acetate. Also, CH4 production occurred in 50% of methylated substrate slurries and only methylotrophic CH4 production occurred at all seven MV sites. These slurries were dominated by Methanococcoides methanogens (resulting in pure cultures), and prokaryotes found in other MV sediments. AOM occurred in some slurries, particularly, those from Captain Arutyunov, Mercator and Carlos Ribeiro MVs. Archaeal diversity at MV sites showed the presence of both methanogens and ANME (Methanosarcinales, Methanococcoides, and ANME-1) related sequences, and bacterial diversity was higher than archaeal diversity, dominated by members of the Atribacterota, Chloroflexota, Pseudomonadota, Planctomycetota, Bacillota, and Ca. “Aminicenantes.” Further work is essential to determine the full contribution of Gulf of Cádiz mud volcanoes to the global methane and carbon cycles.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1157337/fullmethanogensmarine sedimentsbiogeochemical cyclesmud volcanoesArchaeaanaerobic methane oxidation |
| spellingShingle | Gordon Webster Gordon Webster Barry A. Cragg Joachim Rinna Joachim Rinna Andrew J. Watkins Andrew J. Watkins Henrik Sass Andrew J. Weightman R. John Parkes Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments Frontiers in Microbiology methanogens marine sediments biogeochemical cycles mud volcanoes Archaea anaerobic methane oxidation |
| title | Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments |
| title_full | Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments |
| title_fullStr | Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments |
| title_short | Methanogen activity and microbial diversity in Gulf of Cádiz mud volcano sediments |
| title_sort | methanogen activity and microbial diversity in gulf of cadiz mud volcano sediments |
| topic | methanogens marine sediments biogeochemical cycles mud volcanoes Archaea anaerobic methane oxidation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1157337/full |
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