Methane-Oxidizing Communities in Lichen-Dominated Forested Tundra Are Composed Exclusively of High-Affinity USCα Methanotrophs.

ABSTRACT: Upland soils of tundra function as a constant sink for atmospheric CH4 but the identity of methane oxidizers in these soils remains poorly understood. Methane uptake rates of -0.4 to -0.6 mg CH4-C m-2 day-1 were determined by the static chamber method in a mildly acidic upland soil of the lichen-dominated forested tundra, North Siberia, Russia. The maximal CH4 oxidation activity was localized in an organic surface soil layer underlying the lichen cover. Molecular identification of methanotrophic bacteria based on retrieval of the pmoA gene revealed Upland Soil Cluster Alpha (USCα) as the only detectable methanotroph group. Quantification of these pmoA gene fragments by means of specific qPCR assay detected ~107pmoA gene copies g-1 dry soil. The pmoA diversity was represented by seven close

SUBMITTER: Belova SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7766663 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature