Isolation of Methanotrophic Consortium from Chernevaya Taiga Soil and Laboratory Research on Its Introduction into...

Aerobic soils serve as significant sinks for atmospheric methane, with their effectiveness influenced by the diversity and activity of soil methanotrophs. Land-use changes, particularly the conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture, can substantially alter these microbial communities. A promising strategy to restore methane oxidation capacity is the introduction of active, ambient methane-oxidizing bacteria. The stable methane-oxidizing microbial consortium T1, dominated by Methylocystis (74%), was isolated from the soil of the unique Chernevaya Taiga forest ecosystem. The effects of inoculating this consortium were evaluated in a four week laboratory incubation experiment, using microcosms of soddy-podzolic agro-soil. Methane oxidation potential was assessed to measure methanotroph activity; methanotrophs were quantified using qPCR targeting pmoA genes; and the diversity of soil microbial communities was examined through 16S rRNA gene profiling. Inoculated soils exhibited significantly higher methane oxidation potentials compared to non-inoculated soils. Furthermore, pmoA gene copy numbers in the inoculated soils were significantly elevated (10⁶ copies pmoA g^-1), indicating stable persisted methanotrophic populations throughout the incubation period. These findings suggest that enriched methanotrophic consortium inoculation into agro-soils may be a promising strategy for restoring methane-oxidizing activity.