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An Unexpectedly Broad Thermal and Salinity-Tolerant Estuarine Methanogen Community

Lookup NU author(s): Leanne Blake, Dr Angela Sherry, Obioma MEJEHA, Dr Peter Leary, Professor Ian Head, Emeritus Professor Neil GrayORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Moderately thermophilic (Tmax, ~55 °C) methanogens are identified after extended enrichments from temperate, tropical and low-temperature environments. However, thermophilic methanogens with higher growth temperatures (Topt ≥ 60 °C) are only reported from high-temperature environments. A microcosm-based approach was used to measure the rate of methane production and methanogen community structure over a range of temperatures and salinities in sediment from a temperate estuary. We report short-term incubations (<48 h) revealing methanogens with optimal activity reaching 70 °C in a temperate estuary sediment (in situ temperature 4–5 °C). While 30 °C enrichments amended with acetate, H2 or methanol selected for corresponding mesophilic trophic groups, at 60 °C, only hydrogenotrophs (genus Methanothermobacter) were observed. Since these methanogens are not known to be active under in situ temperatures, we conclude constant dispersal from high temperature habitats. The likely provenance of the thermophilic methanogens was studied by enrichments covering a range of temperatures and salinities. These enrichments indicated that the estuarine sediment hosted methanogens encompassing the global activity envelope of most cultured species. We suggest that estuaries are fascinating sink and source environments for microbial function study.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Blake LI, Sherry A, Mejeha OK, Leary P, Coombs H, Stone W, Head IM, Gray ND

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Microorganisms

Year: 2020

Volume: 8

Issue: 10

Online publication date: 24/09/2024

Acceptance date: 22/09/2020

Date deposited: 16/10/2020

ISSN (electronic): 2076-2607

Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101467

DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101467


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
EP/P502624/1
EPSRC
NE/E01657X/1Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

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