In situ development of a methanotrophic microbiome in deep-sea sediments

Area of Science:

• Marine microbiology
• Deep-sea ecology
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Methane emission from the seabed is regulated by marine methanotrophs.
• The assembly and dynamics of these microbial communities in natural settings are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the development of methanotrophic microbiomes after deep-sea mud eruptions.
• To understand the succession of microbial populations and their biogeochemical functions in response to disturbance.

Main Methods:

• Studied microbial community development at Håkon Mosby mud volcano using metagenomic analysis.
• Examined changes in microbial structure, diversity, and gene abundance downstream from eruptive centers.

Main Results:

• Freshly erupted mud initially supported aerobic methanotrophy (Methylococcales).
• Anaerobic methanotrophs, sulfate-reducers, and sulfur-oxidizers became dominant further from the eruption site.
• Microbial diversity and abundance increased significantly within years, correlating with functional gene abundance.

Conclusions:

• Deep-sea mud eruptions trigger a successional development of methanotrophic communities.
• This succession leads to distinct biogeochemical zonation across the mud volcano.
• The findings offer a framework for understanding deep-sea microbial community recovery after disturbances.