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Abundance and activity of methanotrophic bacteria in littoral and profundal sediments of lake constance (Germany).

ABSTRACT: The abundances and activities of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) were compared in depth profiles of littoral and profundal sediments of Lake Constance, Germany. Abundances were determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the pmoA gene and by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and data were compared to methane oxidation rates calculated from high-resolution concentration profiles. qPCR using type I MOB-specific pmoA primers indicated that type I MOB represented a major proportion in both sediments at all depths. FISH indicated that in both sediments, type I MOB outnumbered type II MOB at least fourfold. Results obtained with both techniques indicated that in the littoral sediment, the highest numbers of methanotrophs were found at a depth of 2 to 3 cm, corresponding to the zone of highest methane oxidation activity, although no oxygen could be detected in this zone. In the profundal sediment, highest methane oxidation activities were found at a depth of 1 to 2 cm, while MOB abundance decreased gradually with sediment depth. In both sediments, MOB were also present at high numbers in deeper sediment layers where no methane oxidation activity could be observed.

SUBMITTER: Rahalkar M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2612212 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Abundance and activity of methanotrophic bacteria in littoral and profundal sediments of lake constance (Germany).

Rahalkar M M Deutzmann J J Schink B B Bussmann I I

Applied and environmental microbiology 20081107 1

The abundances and activities of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) were compared in depth profiles of littoral and profundal sediments of Lake Constance, Germany. Abundances were determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the pmoA gene and by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and data were compared to methane oxidation rates calculated from high-resolution concentration profiles. qPCR using type I MOB-specific pmoA primers indicated that type I MOB represented a major propor ...[more]

PMID: 18997033

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Dataset Information

Abundance and activity of methanotrophic bacteria in littoral and profundal sediments of lake constance (Germany).

Publications

Abundance and activity of methanotrophic bacteria in littoral and profundal sediments of lake constance (Germany).

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