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Methane oxidation rates in the anaerobic sediments of Saanich Inlet 1
Author(s) -
Devol Allan H.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1983.28.4.0738
Subject(s) - sulfate , anaerobic oxidation of methane , anoxic waters , methane , anaerobic exercise , environmental chemistry , chemistry , oxidizing agent , mineralogy , geology , organic chemistry , biology , physiology
Anaerobic methane oxidation rates were determined in the anoxic sediments of Saanich Inlet, British Columbia. Rate profiles had a definite maximum at 15 cm which corresponded to previously observed subsurface local maxima in sulfate reduction rate. The data clearly indicate that anaerobic methane oxidation was occurring at the base of the sulfate reduction zone in these sediments. Furthermore, the coincidence of maxima in the methane oxidation rate and the sulfate reduction rate strongly suggests that the methane oxidizing agent was sulfate, either via direct reaction or coupled indirectly through reactions with other substrates.