稻鱼共生系统的土壤产甲烷和甲烷氧化微生物群落

稻鱼共生对稻田甲烷(CH₄)排放产生明显影响，但稻鱼共生是否影响与CH₄排放相关的产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌仍有待阐明。本研究以全球重要农业文化遗产——青田稻鱼系统为例，通过田间试验，比较研究了水稻单作系统(RM)、无饲料投放的稻鱼共生系统(RFN)和有饲料投放的稻鱼共生系统(RFF)水稻和田鱼的产量、土壤碳氮磷含量以及产甲烷和甲烷氧化微生物的特征。结果表明，RFF的水稻产量和土壤碳氮增量均显著高于RM。荧光定量PCR分析表明，稻鱼共生(RFN和RFF)的产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌丰度显著高于RM,且RFF的产甲烷菌丰度显著高于RFN。Illumina Miseq测序分析表明，稻鱼共生显著影响产甲烷菌群落结构，但对甲烷氧化菌群落结构的影响不显著；对于不同代谢类型的产甲烷菌，稻鱼共生(RFN和RFF)氢营养型产甲烷菌的丰度显著高于RM,且RFF的乙酸营养型产甲烷菌丰度显著高于RFN;对于不同代谢类型的甲烷氧化菌，RFN和RFF对类型Ⅰ的甲烷氧化菌丰度影响均不显著；RFF中类型Ⅱ的甲烷氧化菌丰度显著高于RM和RFN。可见，稻鱼共生可明显影响产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化...     

互花米草入侵对滩涂湿地甲烷排放的影响

在浙江省台州市附近滩涂湿地设置3个不同互花米草入侵密度梯度,即仅有本土植物样地、互花米草与本土植物混生样地和互花米草单优群落样地,研究互花米草入侵对滩涂湿地CH₄排放的影响.结果表明: 3个样地CH₄排放通量为0.68～5.88 mg·m^-2·h^-1,CH₄排放通量随着互花米草入侵梯度的增加而显著升高,互花米草单优群落样地CH₄排放通量分别为本土植物样地和混生样地的8.7和2.3倍.互花米草入侵显著提高了产甲烷菌数量、产甲烷潜力、甲烷氧化菌数量、甲烷氧化潜力、植物生物量、土壤有机碳含量和土壤pH,降低了土壤全氮含量.CH₄排放通量与土壤全氮呈显著负相关,与产甲烷菌数量、产甲烷潜力、甲烷氧化菌数量、甲烷氧化潜力、植物生物量和土壤pH呈显著正相关.互花米草的入侵提高了滩涂湿地植物群落生物量和土壤pH,促进了产甲烷菌数量和产甲烷潜力,从而提高了滩涂湿地的CH₄排放.     

扎龙盐碱湿地芦苇根际土的优势产甲烷途径分析

【背景】芦苇湿地是甲烷主要的排放源之一,产甲烷古菌是唯一产生大量甲烷的生物,而盐碱湿地芦苇根际土优势甲烷途径鲜有研究。【目的】调查扎龙低温盐碱湿地芦苇根际土中的优势产甲烷途径。【方法】通过16S rRNA基因扩增子测序,分析扎龙湿地芦苇生长季根际土壤深度0–20 cm的产甲烷古菌和细菌组成。用已知的产甲烷底物三甲胺、甲醇、乙酸和H₂/CO₂,以及高盐环境植物和细菌的相似相容物质——甜菜碱(被细菌还原成三甲胺)在pH 8.0培养获得芦苇根际土的产甲烷富集物。测定各种富集物的产甲烷速率鉴定芦苇根际土的优势产甲烷途径;测定甜菜碱富集物中的16S rRNA基因多样性,并用RT-qPCR定量优势细菌和古菌的物种组成,从而推测协同代谢甜菜碱产甲烷的细菌和古菌类群。【结果】扎龙盐碱湿地芦苇根际土含有氢营养型的甲烷杆菌属(Methanobacterium,36.42%)、偏好低氢的Rice Cluster Ⅱ (11.55%)、乙酸营养型的甲烷鬃菌属(Methanosaeta,11.29%)、甲基营养型的甲烷八叠球菌属(Methanosarcina,6.53...     

低温湿地甲烷古菌及其介导的甲烷产生途径

甲烷是重要的温室气体,低温湿地是大气甲烷的重要来源,因为湿地土壤中生活着大量的微生物包括甲烷古菌,它们将有机物降解转化为甲烷.本文总结了近年来低温湿地甲烷古菌群落组成、甲烷产生途径及其与环境的关系.研究显示,乙酸是低温湿地中主要的产甲烷物质,氢产甲烷过程主要发生在中温地区或酸性泥炭土中,而在盐碱水域中甲醇、甲胺是甲烷的重要底物.位于我国青藏高原的若尔盖湿地具有高海拔但低纬度的地理特征,我们的前期研究却显示甲醇在该湿地的甲烷排放中具有重要贡献.相应地,低温湿地中的甲烷古菌主要是利用甲基类化合物/乙酸的甲烷八叠球菌目和氢营养型的甲烷微球菌目.然而不同类型湿地甲烷排放途径及甲烷古菌的差异主要与环境的土壤类型、pH及植被类型相关,如刚毛荸荠生长的若尔盖湿地土壤中来源于甲醇的甲烷占全部甲烷的l7％;而木里苔草土壤中乙酸是产甲烷的主要前体物质.尽管已知冷适应的甲烷古菌在低温湿地的甲烷排放中发挥重要作用,但目前获得培养的嗜冷甲烷古菌却很少.冷响应的组学研究显示甲烷古菌的冷适应涉及到全局性生物学过程.     

产甲烷条件下岩溶湿地沉积物中古菌群落的变化规律

【背景】桂林会仙湿地位于喀斯特峰丛洼地和峰丛平原的过渡区,主要由岩溶地下河补给,水质呈现富钙偏碱特征,是一处典型的岩溶湿地环境,湿地沉积物以厌氧环境为主,独特的环境特征使之成为研究新型厌氧微生物的理想场所。氢型产甲烷菌和乙酸型产甲烷菌是环境中有机质厌氧降解的重要参与者,但目前会仙湿地产甲烷菌生理生态功能的研究十分有限。【目的】揭示乙酸盐营养型产甲烷条件和氢气营养型产甲烷条件下岩溶湿地环境古菌群落结构的变化规律和产甲烷菌的主要类群,探讨岩溶环境古菌的功能和相互关系。【方法】以会仙岩溶湿地沉积物为研究材料,分别以乙酸盐和氢气为唯一能源物进行富集培养,结合未添加任何能源底物的对照处理,动态监测产甲烷通量,分别构建了3个共包含146条古菌16S rRNA基因全长序列的文库,以及3个共包含138条甲基辅酶M还原酶基因mcr A基因序列的文库,通过构建系统发育树比较分析不同产甲烷底物培养条件下典型岩溶湿地古菌群落的变化规律。【结果】从乙酸型和氢型产甲烷条件培养物顶空气中都检测到了几乎等浓度的甲烷产生,甲烷八叠球菌是mcr A文库中主要的古菌类群,其中包含了Methanosarcina属古菌、Zoige Cluster I (ZC-I)和ANME-2d Cluster (AD)类群古菌,以及两个相对独立且不包含任何参考序列的分支KT-I和KT-II,可能代表产甲烷菌的新类群;经过两种产甲烷条件的富集培养后,ZC-I、AD和KT-II类群古菌的序列数占比有较为显著的增加(45%–155%);深古菌(Bathyarchaeota)是所有古菌16Sr RNA基因文库的优势类群,序列占比为88%–100%,其中MCG-11亚群最为丰富,占所有深古菌的84%,并且在乙酸盐产甲烷条件下增加了17%。【结论】会仙湿地沉积物中蕴涵着丰富的新型古菌序列,沉积物中主要的氢型产甲烷菌和乙酸型产甲烷菌都来自甲烷八叠球菌目,深古菌在岩溶环境和乙酸型产甲烷条件下可能都发挥着重要的作用。     

广州市城乡梯度森林公园雨季空气PM2.5浓度及水溶性离子特征

2012年雨季（4—9月）,收集广州市城市区、近郊区和远郊区森林公园的PM_2.5样品,测定PM_2.5质量浓度,分析了其中SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NO₂^-、Cl^-、F^-、Na⁺、NH₄⁺、Ca²⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺ 共10种水溶性无机离子含量.结果表明：帽峰山（远郊）、大夫山（近郊）、火炉山（城区）PM_2.5质量浓度的日变化分别为17.2～66.5、19.4～156.3、21.8～161.7 μg·m^-3,平均值分别为44.4、49.8、55.9 μg·m^-3.SO₄^2-、Na⁺和NH₄⁺为水溶性无机离子主要组分,其中,SO₄^2-含量最大,并从城区至郊区呈递减趋势.固定源对3个森林公园空气中SO₂和NO_x的贡献大于移动源,从城区至远郊呈递减趋势,说明机动车对城区空气中SO₂和NO_x的贡献大于近郊和远郊森林公园.采样期间,海盐对大夫山空气PM_2.5中水溶性组分的贡献最大,其中K⁺受海盐的影响超过其他元素.NH₄⁺当量浓度远小于SO₄^2-和NO₃^-的当量浓度,中和度远小于1,反映PM_2.5酸性较强,且从远郊至城区PM_2.5粒子酸性呈增强趋势.     

广州市城乡梯度森林公园雨季空气PM2.5浓度及水溶性离子特征

2012年雨季（4-9月）,收集广州市城市区、近郊区和远郊区森林公园的PM_2.5样品,测定PM_2.5质量浓度,分析了其中SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NO₂^-、Cl^-、F^-、Na⁺、NH₄⁺、Ca²⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺ 共10种水溶性无机离子含量.结果表明：帽峰山（远郊）、大夫山（近郊）、火炉山（城区）PM_2.5质量浓度的日变化分别为17.2～66.5、19.4～156.3、21.8～161.7 μg·m^-3,平均值分别为44.4、49.8、55.9 μg·m^-3.SO₄^2-、Na⁺和NH₄⁺为水溶性无机离子主要组分,其中,SO₄^2-含量最大,并从城区至郊区呈递减趋势.固定源对3个森林公园空气中SO₂和NO_x的贡献大于移动源,从城区至远郊呈递减趋势,说明机动车对城区空气中SO₂和NO_x的贡献大于近郊和远郊森林公园.采样期间,海盐对大夫山空气PM_2.5中水溶性组分的贡献最大,其中K⁺受海盐的影响超过其他元素.NH₄⁺当量浓度远小于SO₄^2-和NO₃^-的当量浓度,中和度远小于1,反映PM_2.5酸性较强,且从远郊至城区PM_2.5粒子酸性呈增强趋势.     

红壤典型地区大气硫输入的干沉降通量研究——以江西红壤站为例

在江西(鹰潭)红壤典型地区农田下垫面上进行大气SO₂、硫酸盐(SO₄^2-)的浓度采样,利用阻力模式计算SO₂和SO₄^2-的干沉降速度,估算大气S输入农田生态系统的干沉降通量.结果表明,农田下垫面上SO₂和SO₄^2-干沉降速度的平均值分别是0.3、0.23cm·s^-1.干沉降速度具有明显的日变化特征,一般白天大于夜间,午后出现最大值.大气S输入农田生态系统的半年干沉降通量为6.7g·m^-2.     

NO3-/NO2-对渤海湾油藏中硫酸盐还原菌SO42-还原活性的抑制效应

长期注水开发促进了渤海湾海域油藏中硫酸盐还原菌(SRP)的生长繁殖,产生了大量H₂S,引起油藏酸化(souring)等问题. 本文首先以改进的API RP 38培养基富集了渤海湾海域某油藏采出井井口采出液中的SRP,再通过批次试验研究了不同浓度NO₃^-和NO₂^-对SRP富集培养物SO₄^2-还原活性的抑制效应. 结果表明： 渤海湾海域油藏中的SRP富集培养物SO₄^2-还原活性较强,SO₄^2-还原速率为10.4 mmol SO₄^2-·d^-1·g^-1 dry cell;加入浓度为0.4、0.8、1.8、4.2 mmol·L^-1NO₃^-时,SRP富集培养物的SO₄^2-还原活性均可被抑制,维持时间分别为5、9、20和大于35 d;加入浓度为0.6、0.9、1.4、2.6或4.6 mmol·L^-1的NO₂^-时,SO₄^2-还原活性也被抑制,维持时间分别为3、12、22和大于39 d. SRP富集培养物具有异化NO₃^-还原成NH₄⁺的代谢途径.当环境中同时存在SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NO₂^-时,SRP富集培养物优先利用NO₃^-和NO₂^-. SRP富集培养物对电子受体的优先利用及NO₂^-的毒性效应是NO₃^-/NO₂^-抑制渤海湾海域油藏中SO₄^2-还原活性的主要原因.     

NO3-/NO2-对渤海湾油藏中硫酸盐还原菌SO42-还原活性的抑制效应

长期注水开发促进了渤海湾海域油藏中硫酸盐还原菌(SRP)的生长繁殖,产生了大量H₂S,引起油藏酸化(souring)等问题. 本文首先以改进的API RP 38培养基富集了渤海湾海域某油藏采出井井口采出液中的SRP,再通过批次试验研究了不同浓度NO₃^-和NO₂^-对SRP富集培养物SO₄^2-还原活性的抑制效应. 结果表明： 渤海湾海域油藏中的SRP富集培养物SO₄^2-还原活性较强,SO₄^2-还原速率为10.4 mmol SO₄^2-·d^-1·g^-1 dry cell;加入浓度为0.4、0.8、1.8、4.2 mmol·L^-1NO₃^-时,SRP富集培养物的SO₄^2-还原活性均可被抑制,维持时间分别为5、9、20和大于35 d;加入浓度为0.6、0.9、1.4、2.6或4.6 mmol·L^-1的NO₂^-时,SO₄^2-还原活性也被抑制,维持时间分别为3、12、22和大于39 d. SRP富集培养物具有异化NO₃^-还原成NH₄⁺的代谢途径.当环境中同时存在SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NO₂^-时,SRP富集培养物优先利用NO₃^-和NO₂^-. SRP富集培养物对电子受体的优先利用及NO₂^-的毒性效应是NO₃^-/NO₂^-抑制渤海湾海域油藏中SO₄^2-还原活性的主要原因.     

The effect of sulfate and nitrate on methane formation in a freshwater sediment

A freshwater sediment from a ditch of a peat grassland near Zegveld (Province of Utrecht, The Netherlands) was investigated for its potential methanogenic and syntrophic activity and the influence of sulfate and nitrate on these potential activities. Methanogenesis started after a 10 days lagphase. After 35–40 days aceticlastic methanogens were sufficiently enriched to cause a net decrease of acetate. In the presence of sulfate methane formation was only slightly affected. The addition of nitrate led to an outcompetion of aceticlastic methanogens by nitrate reducers. When inorganic electron acceptors were absent, substrates like propionate and butyrate were converted by syntrophic methanogenic consortia. Addition of inorganic electron acceptors resulted in an outcompetition of the syntrophic propionate and butyrate degrading consortia by the sulfate and nitrate reducers.     

Soil type links microbial colonization of rice roots to methane emission

Most of the methane (CH₄) emission from rice fields is derived from plant photosynthates, which are converted to CH₄. Rice cluster I (RC-1) archaea colonizing the rhizosphere were found to be the methanogens responsible for this process. Hence, RC-1 methanogens seem to play a crucial role in emission of the greenhouse gas CH₄. We determined the community composition and activity of methanogens colonizing the roots of eight different rice cultivars after growth on both Italian rice soil and river bank soil, which contained different communities of methanogenic archaea. The community composition was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and cloning/sequencing of the archaeal 16S rRNA gene and the mcrA gene coding for a subunit of the methyl coenzyme M reductase. When grown on rice field soil, the methanogenic community of the different rice cultivars was always dominated by RC-1 methanogens. In contrast, roots were colonized by Methanomicrobiales when grown on river bank soil, in which RC-1 methanogens were initially not detectable. Roots colonized with Methanomicrobiales compared with RC-1 exhibited lower CH₄ production and CH₄ emission rates. The results show that the type of methanogens colonizing rice roots has a potentially important impact on the global CH₄ cycle.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from rice microcosms amended with a plant microbial fuel cell

Methane (CH₄) release from wetlands is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. Gas exchange occurs mainly through the aerenchyma of plants, and production of greenhouse gases is heavily dependent on rhizosphere biogeochemical conditions (i.e. substrate availability and redox potential). It is hypothesized that by introducing a biocatalyzed anode electrode in the rhizosphere of wetland plants, a competition for carbon and electrons can be invoked between electrical current-generating bacteria and methanogenic Archaea. The anode electrode is part of a bioelectrochemical system (BES) capable of harvesting electrical current from microbial metabolism. In this work, the anode of a BES was introduced in the rhizosphere of rice plants (Oryza sativa), and the impact on methane emissions was monitored. Microbial current generation was able to outcompete methanogenic processes when the bulk matrix contained low concentrations of organic carbon, provided that the electrical circuit with the effective electroactive microorganisms was in place. When interrupting the electrical circuit or supplying an excess of organic carbon, methanogenic metabolism was able to outcompete current generating metabolism. The qPCR results showed hydrogenotrophic methanogens were the most abundant methanogenic group present, while mixotrophic or acetoclastic methanogens were hardly detected in the bulk rhizosphere or on the electrodes. Competition for electron donor and acceptor were likely the main drivers to lower methane emissions. Overall, electrical current generation with BESs is an interesting option to control CH₄ emissions from wetlands but needs to be applied in combination with other mitigation strategies to be successful and feasible in practice.     

闽江口芦苇沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌群落结构的垂直分布

应用PCR-RFLP技术及测序分析对闽江口芦苇湿地土壤产甲烷菌群落结构的垂直分布特征进行了研究。在构建的6个克隆文库中,每个克隆文库随机挑选100个克隆进行菌落PCR验证,共得到591个阳性克隆。PCR产物经限制性内切酶MspⅠ进行RFLP分析后得到37个不同的分类操作单元(OTUs)。对37个克隆子进行了序列测定,与GenBank数据库中的序列进行比对,最近相似性在91%—99%之间。RFLP分析和系统发育分析表明,闽江口芦苇湿地土壤中产甲烷菌群落包括3大类群:甲烷杆菌目(Methanobacteriales)、甲烷微菌目(Methanomirobiales)和甲烷八叠球菌目(Methanosarcinales)。不同土壤深度中产甲烷菌群落的分布呈现出不同的特征。土壤表层(0—10 cm)优势产甲烷菌类群为Methanoregula,约占76%;10—20 cm土层主要的产甲烷菌类群为Methanolinea和Methanoregula,分别约占23%和29%;20—30cm土层优势的产甲烷菌类群为Methanolinea,约占66%。Shannon指数(H’)和Simpson多样性指教(D)表明,10—20cm土层产甲烷菌多样性高于土壤表层(0—10 cm)和20—30 cm土层。37个测序OTUs中有26个OTUs属于不可培养的产甲烷菌序列,表明闽江口芦苇湿地土壤中存在大量不可培养的产甲烷菌。     

多年冻土退化对湿地甲烷排放的影响研究进展

全球气候变暖导致北半球大部分多年冻土区的冻土已经开始退化。多年冻土退化对冻土区湿地CH₄排放产生重要影响,可能直接决定冻土区湿地对全球气候变暖的反馈方式。综述了近年来多年冻土退化对湿地CH₄排放影响的研究。多年冻土退化导致的土壤活动层深度增加和植被类型由中生向湿生的转变都可能会大大增加冻土区湿地CH₄排放量,从而可能对全球气候变暖产生正反馈作用。但多年冻土退化导致的水文条件变化、土壤温度变化和微生物组成及活性变化对湿地CH₄排放的影响却存在一定的不确定性。多年冻土退化除了影响湿地CH₄排放量之外,还可能通过改变土壤冻融过程而影响湿地CH₄排放的季节分配模式。最后提出目前研究中存在的问题,并对未来研究方向进行了展望。     

Archaeal communities in High Arctic wetlands at Spitsbergen, Norway (78 degrees N) as characterized by 16S rRNA gene fingerprinting

Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from Arctic wetlands have been studied extensively, though little is known about the ecology and community structure of methanogenic archaea that catalyze the methane production. As part of a project addressing microbial transformations of methane in Arctic wetlands, we studied archaeal communities in two wetlands (Solvatnet and Stuphallet) at Spitsbergen, Norway (78 degrees N) during two summer seasons. Directly extracted peat community DNA and enrichment cultures of methanogenic archaea were analyzed by nested PCR combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Sequences affiliated with Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacteriaceae, Methanosaeta and Group I.3b of the uncultured crenarchaeota were detected at both sites. Sequences affiliated with Methanosarcina were recovered only from the site Solvatnet, while sequences affiliated with the euryarchaeotal clusters Rice Cluster II and Sediment 1 were detected only at the site Stuphallet. The phylogenetic affiliation of the recovered sequences suggested a potential of both hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis at both sites. At Solvatnet, there were clear temporal trends in the archaeal community structure over the Arctic summer season. The archaeal community composition was significantly affected by factors influencing the activity of the overall bacterial community, as measured by in situ emissions of CO2. Methane emissions at both sites were influenced more by peat temperatures and thaw depth than by the archaeal community structure. Enrichment cultures for methanogenic archaea determined that most of the methanogens detected directly in peat could grow in culture at 10 degrees C. Culture based biases were indicated in later enrichment steps by the abundant growth of a Methanosarcina strain that was not detected directly in peat samples.     

瘤胃甲烷菌及甲烷生成的调控

甲烷菌属于古细菌 ,参与有机物的厌氧降解 ,生成甲烷。反刍动物瘤胃内甲烷的生成损耗 2 %～ 12 %的饲料能量 ,并且通过嗳气排入大气。甲烷不仅是温室气体之一 ,而且还会破坏大气臭氧层。每年全球反刍动物排放大量的甲烷 ,减少瘤胃内甲烷的生成对提高饲料能量利用率和改善环境具有重要意义。近年来 ,有关瘤胃甲烷菌及甲烷生成调控的报道日益增多。概述甲烷菌的特性以及瘤胃内甲烷生成的途径 ,综述甲烷生成的调控手段 ,主要包括去原虫、日粮配合、添加电子受体、增加乙酸生成菌等方法     

Inhibition Experiments on Anaerobic Methane Oxidation

Anaerobic methane oxidation is a general process important in controlling fluxes of methane from anoxic marine sediments. The responsible organism has not been isolated, and little is known about the electron acceptors and substrates involved in the process. Laboratory evidence indicates that sulfate reducers and methanogens are able to oxidize small quantities of methane. Field evidence suggests anaerobic methane oxidation may be linked to sulfate reduction. Experiments with specific inhibitors for sulfate reduction (molybdate), methanogenesis (2-bromoethanesulfonic acid), and acetate utilization (fluoroacetate) were performed on marine sediments from the zone of methane oxidation to determine whether sulfate-reducing bacteria or methanogenic bacteria are responsible for methane oxidation. The inhibition experiment results suggest that methane oxidation in anoxic marine sediments is not directly mediated by sulfate-reducing bacteria or methanogenic bacteria. Our results are consistent with two possibilities: anaerobic methane oxidation may be mediated by an unknown organism or a consortium involving an unknown methane oxidizer and sulfate-reducing bacteria.     

Microbial ecosystem and methanogenesis in ruminants

Ruminant production is under increased public scrutiny in terms of the importance of cattle and other ruminants as major producers of the greenhouse gas methane. Methanogenesis is performed by methanogenic archaea, a specialised group of microbes present in several anaerobic environments including the rumen. In the rumen, methanogens utilise predominantly H2 and CO2 as substrates to produce methane, filling an important functional niche in the ecosystem. However, in addition to methanogens, other microbes also have an influence on methane production either because they are involved in hydrogen (H2) metabolism or because they affect the numbers of methanogens or other members of the microbiota. This study explores the relationship between some of these microbes and methanogenesis and highlights some functional groups that could play a role in decreasing methane emissions. Dihydrogen ('H2' from this point on) is the key element that drives methane production in the rumen. Among H2 producers, protozoa have a prominent position, which is strengthened by their close physical association with methanogens, which favours H2 transfer from one to the other. A strong positive interaction was found between protozoal numbers and methane emissions, and because this group is possibly not essential for rumen function, protozoa might be a target for methane mitigation. An important function that is associated with production of H2 is the degradation of fibrous plant material. However, not all members of the rumen fibrolytic community produce H2. Increasing the proportion of non-H2 producing fibrolytic microorganisms might decrease methane production without affecting forage degradability. Alternative pathways that use electron acceptors other than CO2 to oxidise H2 also exist in the rumen. Bacteria with this type of metabolism normally occupy a distinct ecological niche and are not dominant members of the microbiota; however, their numbers can increase if the right potential electron acceptor is present in the diet. Nitrate is an alternative electron sinks that can promote the growth of particular bacteria able to compete with methanogens. Because of the toxicity of the intermediate product, nitrite, the use of nitrate has not been fully explored, but in adapted animals, nitrite does not accumulate and nitrate supplementation may be an alternative under some dietary conditions that deserves to be further studied. In conclusion, methanogens in the rumen co-exist with other microbes, which have contrasting activities. A better understanding of these populations and the pathways that compete with methanogenesis may provide novel targets for emissions abatement in ruminant production.