Investigating the ecological controls on methane production in a riparian cottonwood forest and adjacent river
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Date
2021
Authors
Smits, Kristian Michael
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences
Abstract
This study explored how the chemical nature of organic matter may drive
microbial communities and their metabolic processes of methane production in
the Oldman River sediment and adjacent riparian cottonwood tree stems in
southern Alberta. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content in tree stems and river
sediment environments were measured, while molecular genetic techniques and
stable carbon isotope measurements were used to explore the microbial
communities and methane production pathways. River sediment organic matter
had lower C/N ratios than in tree stems, likely forming different substrates for
microbial growth, resulting in contrasting microbial communities and greater
microbial diversity observed in river sediments than in tree stems. The microbial
communities differed in their metabolic pathways, with methane produced in tree
stems occurring primarily through CO2 reduction, while river sediments produced
more methane through acetate fermentation. This study highlights distinct
microbial communities and metabolic pathways contributing to net ecosystem
methane emission.
Description
Keywords
ecology , biology , methane production pathways , microbial communities , river sediment , riparian areas , cottonwood tree stems , ecosystem methane , Riparian ecology--Alberta--Lethbridge , Riparian forests--Alberta--Lethbridge , Cottonwood--Alberta--Lethbridge , Humus--Biodegradation , Soil microbial ecology , Microbial metabolism , River sediments--Alberta--Oldman River--Analysis , River sediments--Alberta--Lethbridge--Analysis , Tree trunks--Alberta--Lethbridge--Analysis , Methanobacteriaceae--Research , Riparian areas--Alberta--Lethbridge , Methane--Metabolism--Research , Dissertations, Academic