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Population dynamics of type I and II methanotrophic bacteria in rice soils
Author(s) -
Macalady Jennifer L.,
McMillan Andrew M. S.,
Dickens Angela F.,
Tyler Stanley C.,
Scow Kate M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2002.00278.x
Subject(s) - methanotroph , paddy field , biology , population , soil water , methane , wetland , agronomy , ecology , anaerobic oxidation of methane , demography , sociology
Summary Methane‐oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) consume a significant but variable fraction of greenhouse‐active methane gas produced in wetlands and rice paddies before it can be emitted to the atmosphere. Temporal and spatial dynamics of methanotroph populations in California rice paddies were quantified using phospholipid biomarker analyses in order to evaluate the relative importance of type I and type II methanotrophs with depth and in relation to rice roots. Methanotroph population fluctuations occurred primarily within the top 0–2 cm of soil, where methanotroph cells increased by a factor of 3–5 over the flooded rice‐growing season. The results indicate that rice roots and rhizospheres were less important than the soil–water interface in supporting methanotroph growth. Both type I and type II methanotrophs were abundant throughout the year. However, only type II populations were strongly correlated with soil porewater methane concentrations and rice growth.