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Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.

The Carbon Cycle

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Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.

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Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
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Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...

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Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands

Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands

Published on: January 31, 2025

Belowground changes to community structure alter methane-cycling dynamics in Amazonia.

Kyle M Meyer¹, Andrew H Morris², Kevin Webster³

¹Department of Integrative Biology, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.

Environment International

|September 26, 2020

Summary

Deforestation in the Amazon increases soil methane emissions, especially from cattle pastures. However, secondary forests can reverse these emissions, highlighting the crucial role of microbial communities in regulating methane cycling.

Keywords:

Amazon basin Biodiversity-ecosystem function Land use change Methane Methanogen Methanotroph Microbial ecology

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Microbiology
Ecology

Background:

Amazonian rainforest deforestation is accelerating, primarily due to cattle ranching.
Forest-to-pasture conversion significantly increases soil methane (CH4) emissions.
Understanding the drivers of methane flux changes in response to land use is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate soil methane flux and microbial community structure across primary forests, pastures, and secondary forests in the Amazon.
To identify microbial attributes associated with methane flux, independent of soil chemistry.
To elucidate the role of microbial community composition in regulating methane dynamics following land use change.

Main Methods:

Measurement of soil methane (CH4) flux and environmental conditions.
Analysis of belowground microbial community structure using a novel computational approach.
Comparison across primary forests, cattle pastures, and secondary forests in two Amazonian regions.

Main Results:

Pasture soils exhibit high methane (CH4) emissions, while forest soils act as CH4 sinks.
Secondary forest soils demonstrate a capacity to consume CH4, indicating potential reversal of pasture emissions.
Microbial community composition, not just known methanogens and methanotrophs, is strongly associated with CH4 flux across land use types.

Conclusions:

Land use change in the Amazon profoundly alters soil microbial communities.
Shifts in microbial composition are key drivers of observed methane (CH4) dynamics.
Microbial community structure provides explanatory power for CH4 flux beyond traditional environmental variables.