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oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/61062022-03-22T17:38:32Zcom_10133_3346com_10133_1com_10133_296col_10133_3347col_10133_298

Flanagan, Larry B. Smits, Kristian Michael University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science 2021-12-08T22:07:15Z 2021-12-08T22:07:15Z 2021 https://hdl.handle.net/10133/6106 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. Alberta Innovates: Water Innovation Program (WIP) Project Number: #3360-E013 Project Title: Sustaining Healthy River Valleys: Health Assessment Tools for the South Saskatchewan River Basin and other Dryland Rivers of Western North America S.B. Rood and L.B. Flanagan Co-PIs NSERC Discovery Grant Program Grant Number: RGPIN-2019-05195 Title: Comparative Ecosystem Ecology: Acclimation of ecosystem function to warmer temperatures and altered moisture PI: L.B. Flanagan en_US Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences Arts and Science Department of Biological Sciences 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 Investigating the ecological controls on methane production in a riparian cottonwood forest and adjacent river Thesis Masters 0306 0410 0329 Yes open.access