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Microbial contributions to subterranean methane sinks.

J T Lennon1, D Nguyễn-Thùy2, T M Phạm3

  • 1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.

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|September 28, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cave ecosystems may act as methane sinks due to microbial oxidation, not radiolysis. Methanotrophic bacteria consume methane in caves at significant rates, impacting global methane cycles.

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Area of Science:

  • Biogeochemistry
  • Microbial Ecology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Methane (CH4) sources and sinks are crucial for global biogeochemical cycles and climate change.
  • Cave ecosystems often show depleted CH4 concentrations, suggesting they may be CH4 sinks.
  • Two hypotheses explain this depletion: abiotic radiolysis and biotic oxidation by methanotrophic bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cause of methane depletion in cave ecosystems.
  • To evaluate the radiolysis hypothesis for methane loss.
  • To assess the role of microbial methanotrophy in subterranean methane cycling.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical kinetic analysis of the radiolysis hypothesis.
  • Laboratory experiments to validate radiolysis constraints.
  • Mesocosm experiments in Vietnamese caves to quantify microbial methane oxidation.

Main Results:

  • Radiolysis is a kinetically constrained process unlikely to cause rapid methane loss in caves.
  • Methanotrophic bacteria in cave rocks consume methane at rates of 1.3-2.7 mg CH4 · m-2 · d-1.
  • Observed methane oxidation rates in caves are comparable to or exceed those in other terrestrial ecosystems.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial oxidation by methanotrophic bacteria is the primary driver of methane depletion in caves.
  • Subterranean microbial methanotrophy can significantly impact atmospheric methane concentrations.
  • Further research is needed to understand the broader implications of subterranean methane oxidation on global methane budgets.