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Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands
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The methane cycle in ferruginous Lake Matano.

S A Crowe1, S Katsev, K Leslie

  • 1Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Geobiology
|September 22, 2010
PubMed
Summary

In Lake Matano, methane (CH₄) fuels microbial life and carbon cycling, even in iron-rich waters. Methanogens and methanotrophs likely played key roles in ancient Archean oceans.

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Area of Science:

  • Geomicrobiology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Lake Matano, Indonesia, is a unique ferruginous basin with abundant iron oxides.
  • Over 50% of organic matter is degraded by methanogenesis, despite high iron.
  • High concentrations of methane (CH₄) exist in anoxic bottom waters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate methane cycling and its microbial drivers in Lake Matano.
  • Determine the role of methanogenesis and methane oxidation in this iron-rich environment.
  • Explore implications for early Earth ecosystems.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon (ΣCO₂) and carbon isotopes (δ¹³C).
  • Thermodynamic modeling of microbial metabolisms.
  • Flux calculations for iron and manganese.
  • 16S rRNA gene cloning to identify microbial communities.

Main Results:

  • Methane is oxidized near the pycnocline, with evidence of anaerobic oxidation.
  • Anaerobic methane oxidation is likely coupled to iron and manganese reduction.
  • Methanogens capable of acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic pathways were identified.
  • Methane plays a significant role in carbon cycling in this Fe-rich system.

Conclusions:

  • Lake Matano's microbial ecosystems provide insights into potential Archean Ocean conditions.
  • Methanogens and methanotrophs may have been crucial components of early Earth's marine ecosystems.
  • Iron-rich environments support significant methane cycling and microbial activity.