The more, the merrier: heterotroph richness stimulates methanotrophic activity.

TY - JOUR

T1 - The more, the merrier: heterotroph richness stimulates methanotrophic activity.

AU - Ho, A.

AU - De Roy, K.

AU - Thas, O.

AU - De Neve, J.

AU - Hoefman, S.

AU - Vandamme, P.

AU - Heylen, K.

AU - Boon, N.

N1 - Reporting year: 2014 Metis note: 5602; ME Data archiving: no data; property of preview employer Ho worked on this in NIOO time (Bodelier, 8-8-2017)

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Although microorganisms coexist in the same environment, it is still unclear how their interaction regulates ecosystem functioning. Using a methanotroph as a model microorganism, we determined how methane oxidation responds to heterotroph diversity. Artificial communities comprising of a methanotroph and increasing heterotroph richness, while holding equal starting cell numbers were assembled. We considered methane oxidation rate as a functional response variable. Our results showed a significant increase of methane oxidation with increasing heterotroph richness, suggesting a complex interaction in the cocultures leading to a stimulation of methanotrophic activity. Therefore, not only is the methanotroph diversity directly correlated to methanotrophic activity for some methanotroph groups as shown before, but also the richness of heterotroph interacting partners is relevant to enhance methane oxidation too. In this unprecedented study, we provide direct evidence showing how heterotroph richness exerts a response in methanotroph– heterotroph interaction, resulting in increased methanotrophic activity. Our study has broad implications in how methanotroph and heterotroph interact to regulate methane oxidation, and is particularly relevant in methane-driven ecosystems

AB - Although microorganisms coexist in the same environment, it is still unclear how their interaction regulates ecosystem functioning. Using a methanotroph as a model microorganism, we determined how methane oxidation responds to heterotroph diversity. Artificial communities comprising of a methanotroph and increasing heterotroph richness, while holding equal starting cell numbers were assembled. We considered methane oxidation rate as a functional response variable. Our results showed a significant increase of methane oxidation with increasing heterotroph richness, suggesting a complex interaction in the cocultures leading to a stimulation of methanotrophic activity. Therefore, not only is the methanotroph diversity directly correlated to methanotrophic activity for some methanotroph groups as shown before, but also the richness of heterotroph interacting partners is relevant to enhance methane oxidation too. In this unprecedented study, we provide direct evidence showing how heterotroph richness exerts a response in methanotroph– heterotroph interaction, resulting in increased methanotrophic activity. Our study has broad implications in how methanotroph and heterotroph interact to regulate methane oxidation, and is particularly relevant in methane-driven ecosystems

KW - international

U2 - 10.1038/ismej.2014.74

DO - 10.1038/ismej.2014.74

M3 - Article

SN - 1751-7362

VL - 8

SP - 1945

EP - 1948

JO - ISME Journal

JF - ISME Journal

ER -