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Diversity and Dynamics of Methanotrophs within an Experimental Landfill Cover Soil
Author(s) -
Jugnia Louis-B.,
Aït-Benichou Samah,
Fortin Nathalie,
Cabral Alexandre R.,
Greer Charles W.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2008.0161
Subject(s) - methanotroph , species evenness , ecology , community structure , soil water , species diversity , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , biology , microbial population biology , environmental science , anaerobic oxidation of methane , methane , bacteria , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Three experimental biocovers were installed during the summer of 2006 at the St‐Nicéphore landfill in Québec (Canada). The main objectives of the experimental program were to assess the efficiency of these biocovers in reducing CH 4 emissions and to monitor the evolution in space and time of the dynamics and diversity of methanotrophic bacteria that may be responsible for CH 4 abatement. Dynamics of methanotroph populations derived from most probable number (MPN) counts exhibited different steps (lag, growth, and collapse phases), with mean abundances decreasing somewhat with depth. Methanotroph diversity, as assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed changes over time in the community structure. These changes were dependent on the sampling depth and only Type I methanotrophs belonging essentially to the genus Methylobacter were retrieved from our samples. Given the youthful character of the system under study, together with the reported behavior of this functional group of methanotrophs, it was concluded that Type I methanotrophs forming the community structure might reflect pioneer species with a potentially high growth rate (r‐strategists) that become numerically dominant reducing the evenness of species distribution. These results contribute to the generally limited body of knowledge on methanotroph diversity in landfill cover soils.