Tree bark microbes for climate management.

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Biogeochemical cycles

Background:

• Greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4), hydrogen (H2), and carbon monoxide (CO) contribute to atmospheric chemistry and climate.
• Microbial communities are known to play crucial roles in the cycling of various elements and compounds in diverse ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the metabolic capabilities of microbes residing in tree bark.
• To determine if bark-associated microbial communities can process key atmospheric trace gases.

Main Methods:

• Metagenomic sequencing of bark microbial communities.
• Incubation experiments with bark samples under controlled atmospheric conditions.
• Analysis of gas consumption using gas chromatography.

Main Results:

• Bark-associated microbial communities possess genes involved in the oxidation of methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.
• Experimental evidence confirmed the consumption of these gases by bark samples.
• Identification of specific bacterial taxa potentially responsible for trace gas metabolism.

Conclusions:

• Tree bark harbors a metabolically active microbiome capable of processing significant atmospheric greenhouse gases.
• This finding highlights a previously underestimated role of bark ecosystems in atmospheric gas regulation.