1. Links between archaeal community structure, vegetation type and methanogenic pathway in Alaskan peatlands.
- Author
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Rooney-Varga JN, Giewat MW, Duddleston KN, Chanton JP, and Hines ME
- Subjects
- Alaska, Archaea classification, Archaea metabolism, DNA, Archaeal chemistry, DNA, Archaeal genetics, Ecosystem, Electrophoresis, Methanomicrobiaceae classification, Methanomicrobiaceae genetics, Methanomicrobiaceae metabolism, Methanosarcinales classification, Methanosarcinales genetics, Methanosarcinales metabolism, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Soil Microbiology, Archaea genetics, Methane metabolism, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics
- Abstract
Although northern peatlands contribute significantly to natural methane emissions, recent studies of the importance and type of methanogenesis in these systems have provided conflicting results. Mechanisms controlling methanogenesis in northern peatlands remain poorly understood, despite the importance of methane as a greenhouse gas. We used 16S rRNA gene retrieval and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to analyse archaeal communities in 15 high-latitude peatland sites in Alaska and three mid-latitude peatland sites in Massachusetts. Archaeal community composition was analysed in the context of environmental, vegetation and biogeochemical factors characterized in a parallel study. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Alaskan sites were dominated by a cluster of uncultivated crenarchaeotes and members of the families Methanomicrobiaceae and Methanobacteriaceae, which are not acetoclastic. Members of the acetoclastic family Methanosarcinaceae were not detected, whereas those of the family Methanosaetaceae were either not detected or were minor. These results are consistent with biogeochemical evidence that acetoclastic methanogenesis is not a predominant terminal decomposition pathway in most of the sites analysed. Ordination analyses indicated a link between vegetation type and archaeal community composition, suggesting that plants (and/or the environmental conditions that control their distribution) influence both archaeal community activity and dynamics.
- Published
- 2007
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