Physical disturbance to ecological niches created by soil structure alters community composition of methanotrophs
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 05:20authored byKumaresan, D, Stralis-Pavese, N, Abell, GCJ, Bodrossy, L, Murrell, JC
Aggregates of different sizes and stability in soil create a composite of ecological niches differing in terms of physico-chemical and structural characteristics. The aim of this study was to identify, using DNA-SIP and mRNA-based microarray analysis, whether shifts in activity and community composition of methanotrophs occur when ecological niches created by soil structure are physically perturbed. Landfill cover soil was subject to three treatments termed: ‘control’ (minimal structural disruption), ‘sieved’ (sieved soil using 2 mm mesh) and ‘ground’ (grinding using mortar and pestle). ‘Sieved’ and ‘ground’ soil treatments exhibited higher methane oxidation potentials compared with the ‘control’ soil treatment. Analysis of the active community composition revealed an effect of physical disruption on active methanotrophs. Type I methanotrophs were the most active methanotrophs in ‘sieved’ and ‘ground’ soil treatments, whereas both Type I and Type II methanotrophs were active in the ‘control’ soil treatment. The result emphasize that changes to a particular ecological niche may not result in an immediate change to the active bacterial composition and change in composition will depend on the ability of the bacterial communities to respond to the perturbation.
History
Publication title
Environmental Microbiology Reports
Issue
5
Pagination
613-621
ISSN
1758-2229
Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Place of publication
Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8QG United Kingdom
Rights statement
Copyright 2011 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Other environmental management not elsewhere classified