Termites facilitate methane oxidation and shape the methanotrophic community

A. Ho; H. Erens; B.B. Mujinya; P. Boeckx; G. Baert; B. Schneider; P. Frenzel; N. Boon; E. Van Ranst

doi:10.1128/AEM.02785-13

Termites facilitate methane oxidation and shape the methanotrophic community

A. Ho, H. Erens, B.B. Mujinya, P. Boeckx, G. Baert, B. Schneider, P. Frenzel, N. Boon, E. Van Ranst

NIOO - Microbial Ecology (ME)

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan wetenschappelijk tijdschrift/periodieke uitgave › Artikel › Wetenschappelijk › peer review

23 Citaten (Scopus)

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Termite-derived methane contributes 3-4% to the total methane budget globally. Termites are not known to harbor methane-oxidizing microorganisms (methanotrophs). However, a considerable fraction of methane produced can be consumed by methanotrophs that inhabit the mound material. Yet, methanotroph ecology in these environments is virtually unknown. Potential for methane oxidation was determined using slurry incubations under high (12 %) and in-situ (~ 0.004%) methane concentrations through a vertical profile of a termite (Macrotermes falciger) mound and a reference soil, respectively. Interestingly, the mound material showed higher methanotrophic activity. Methanotroph community structure was determined by means of a pmoA-based diagnostic microarray. Although methanotrophs in the mound were derived from populations in the reference soil, it appears that termite activity selected for a distinct community. Applying an indicator species analysis revealed that putative atmospheric methane-oxidizers (high indicator value probes specific for JR3 cluster) were indicative for the active nest area, whereas methanotrophs belonging to both type I and II were indicative for the reference soil. We conclude that termites modify their environment resulting in higher methane oxidation, and selecting and/or enriching for a distinct methanotroph population.

Originele taal-2	Nederlands
Pagina's (van-tot)	7234-7240
Tijdschrift	Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume	79
Nummer van het tijdschrift	23
DOI's	https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02785-13
Status	Gepubliceerd - 2013

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international

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10.1128/AEM.02785-13

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title = "Termites facilitate methane oxidation and shape the methanotrophic community",

abstract = "Termite-derived methane contributes 3-4% to the total methane budget globally. Termites are not known to harbor methane-oxidizing microorganisms (methanotrophs). However, a considerable fraction of methane produced can be consumed by methanotrophs that inhabit the mound material. Yet, methanotroph ecology in these environments is virtually unknown. Potential for methane oxidation was determined using slurry incubations under high (12 %) and in-situ (~ 0.004%) methane concentrations through a vertical profile of a termite (Macrotermes falciger) mound and a reference soil, respectively. Interestingly, the mound material showed higher methanotrophic activity. Methanotroph community structure was determined by means of a pmoA-based diagnostic microarray. Although methanotrophs in the mound were derived from populations in the reference soil, it appears that termite activity selected for a distinct community. Applying an indicator species analysis revealed that putative atmospheric methane-oxidizers (high indicator value probes specific for JR3 cluster) were indicative for the active nest area, whereas methanotrophs belonging to both type I and II were indicative for the reference soil. We conclude that termites modify their environment resulting in higher methane oxidation, and selecting and/or enriching for a distinct methanotroph population.",

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AU - Ho, A.

AU - Erens, H.

AU - Mujinya, B.B.

AU - Boeckx, P.

AU - Baert, G.

AU - Schneider, B.

AU - Frenzel, P.

AU - Boon, N.

AU - Van Ranst, E.

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N2 - Termite-derived methane contributes 3-4% to the total methane budget globally. Termites are not known to harbor methane-oxidizing microorganisms (methanotrophs). However, a considerable fraction of methane produced can be consumed by methanotrophs that inhabit the mound material. Yet, methanotroph ecology in these environments is virtually unknown. Potential for methane oxidation was determined using slurry incubations under high (12 %) and in-situ (~ 0.004%) methane concentrations through a vertical profile of a termite (Macrotermes falciger) mound and a reference soil, respectively. Interestingly, the mound material showed higher methanotrophic activity. Methanotroph community structure was determined by means of a pmoA-based diagnostic microarray. Although methanotrophs in the mound were derived from populations in the reference soil, it appears that termite activity selected for a distinct community. Applying an indicator species analysis revealed that putative atmospheric methane-oxidizers (high indicator value probes specific for JR3 cluster) were indicative for the active nest area, whereas methanotrophs belonging to both type I and II were indicative for the reference soil. We conclude that termites modify their environment resulting in higher methane oxidation, and selecting and/or enriching for a distinct methanotroph population.

AB - Termite-derived methane contributes 3-4% to the total methane budget globally. Termites are not known to harbor methane-oxidizing microorganisms (methanotrophs). However, a considerable fraction of methane produced can be consumed by methanotrophs that inhabit the mound material. Yet, methanotroph ecology in these environments is virtually unknown. Potential for methane oxidation was determined using slurry incubations under high (12 %) and in-situ (~ 0.004%) methane concentrations through a vertical profile of a termite (Macrotermes falciger) mound and a reference soil, respectively. Interestingly, the mound material showed higher methanotrophic activity. Methanotroph community structure was determined by means of a pmoA-based diagnostic microarray. Although methanotrophs in the mound were derived from populations in the reference soil, it appears that termite activity selected for a distinct community. Applying an indicator species analysis revealed that putative atmospheric methane-oxidizers (high indicator value probes specific for JR3 cluster) were indicative for the active nest area, whereas methanotrophs belonging to both type I and II were indicative for the reference soil. We conclude that termites modify their environment resulting in higher methane oxidation, and selecting and/or enriching for a distinct methanotroph population.

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