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Discovery of a novel methanogen prevalent in thawing permafrost

Author

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  • Rhiannon Mondav

    (Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland
    Present address: Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 75 236 Uppsala, Sweden (R.M.))

  • Ben J. Woodcroft

    (Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland)

  • Eun-Hae Kim

    (Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona)

  • Carmody K. McCalley

    (University of Arizona
    Present address: Earth Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA)

  • Suzanne B. Hodgkins

    (Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University)

  • Patrick M. Crill

    (Stockholm University)

  • Jeffrey Chanton

    (Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University)

  • Gregory B. Hurst

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Nathan C. VerBerkmoes

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Present address: New England BioLabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA)

  • Scott R. Saleska

    (University of Arizona)

  • Philip Hugenholtz

    (Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland)

  • Virginia I. Rich

    (Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona)

  • Gene W. Tyson

    (Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland)

Abstract

Thawing permafrost promotes microbial degradation of cryo-sequestered and new carbon leading to the biogenic production of methane, creating a positive feedback to climate change. Here we determine microbial community composition along a permafrost thaw gradient in northern Sweden. Partially thawed sites were frequently dominated by a single archaeal phylotype, Candidatus ‘Methanoflorens stordalenmirensis’ gen. nov. sp. nov., belonging to the uncultivated lineage ‘Rice Cluster II’ (Candidatus ‘Methanoflorentaceae’ fam. nov.). Metagenomic sequencing led to the recovery of its near-complete genome, revealing the genes necessary for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. These genes are highly expressed and methane carbon isotope data are consistent with hydrogenotrophic production of methane in the partially thawed site. In addition to permafrost wetlands, ‘Methanoflorentaceae’ are widespread in high methane-flux habitats suggesting that this lineage is both prevalent and a major contributor to global methane production. In thawing permafrost, Candidatus ‘M. stordalenmirensis’ appears to be a key mediator of methane-based positive feedback to climate warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Rhiannon Mondav & Ben J. Woodcroft & Eun-Hae Kim & Carmody K. McCalley & Suzanne B. Hodgkins & Patrick M. Crill & Jeffrey Chanton & Gregory B. Hurst & Nathan C. VerBerkmoes & Scott R. Saleska & Philip, 2014. "Discovery of a novel methanogen prevalent in thawing permafrost," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4212
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4212
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    Cited by:

    1. Sudakow, Ivan & Savenkova, Elena & Kondrashov, Dmitri & Vakulenko, Sergey A. & Sashina, Elena, 2023. "Diverse soil microbial communities may mitigate climate system bifurcation," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).

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