闽江河口区淡水和半咸水潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌多样性

为认识盐度对河口潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌的影响,应用PCR-RFLP技术及测序分析对闽江河口区淡水-半咸水盐度梯度上分布的4个短叶茳芏潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌群落结构进行研究。闽江河口区短叶茳芏潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌群落结构受盐度影响明显,位于下洋洲和塔礁洲的短叶茳芏潮汐淡水沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌的香农-威纳多样性指数值分别为2.81和2.65,位于蝙蝠洲和鳝鱼滩的短叶茳芏潮汐半咸水沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌香农-威纳多样性指数值分别仅为2.33和2.27。系统发育分析表明:短叶茳芏沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌类群主要有甲烷杆菌目(Methanobacteriales),包括Methanobacterium、Methanobrevibacter和Methanobacteriaceae;甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales),主要有Methanoregula,以及甲烷八叠球菌目(Methanosarcinales),主要有Methanosarcina和Methanococcoides。闽江河口区短叶茳芏潮汐淡水沼泽湿地土壤主要的优势产甲烷菌有Methanoregula、Methanosarcina和Methanobacterium,而短叶茳芏潮汐半咸水沼泽湿地土壤主要的优势产甲烷菌则转化为仅以Methanoregula为主。     

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。     

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...     

模拟增温对青海湖鸟岛土壤产甲烷菌群落特征的影响

甲烷生成与产甲烷菌群落关系密切,探究温度升高对产甲烷菌群落的影响可以预测产甲烷菌群落特征对气候变暖的响应.以青海湖鸟岛为研究对象,通过高通量测序方法开展研究.结果表明,基于97％的序列相似度聚类,共得到697个操作分类单元.鸟岛土壤产甲烷菌群落以甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales)、甲烷八叠球菌目(Met...     

炉渣与生物炭施加对稻田土壤产甲烷菌群落结构的影响

为了了解废弃物施加处理影响稻田甲烷排放通量的微生物学机制,对稻田分别进行炉渣、生物炭单一施加和混合施加处理,分析施加处理条件下早、晚稻拔节期稻田土壤的理化性质,并采用PCR-RFLP技术及克隆测序对稻田土壤中的产甲烷菌群落组成多样性及其结构进行分析。研究结果表明:早稻拔节期,混施处理显著提高土壤盐度和pH;晚稻拔节期,混施处理显著提高土壤盐度,炉渣和混施处理显著提高pH。香农-威纳指数(H')和辛普森指数(D)显示:炉渣、生物炭和混施处理提高了稻田土壤产甲烷菌的多样性。群落组成分析结果表明:稻田土壤产甲烷菌主要含有甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales)、甲烷杆菌目(Methanobacteriales)、甲烷八叠球菌目(Methanosarcinales)、甲烷球菌目(Methanococcales)、甲烷胞菌目(Methanocellales)和Methanomassiliicoccales等6大类群,其中甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales)为优势类群。从属水平的群落结构来看,与对照相比,3种施加处理均降低了早稻土壤Methanomassiliicoccus相对丰度;生物炭处理还降低了Methanosarcina相对丰度。初步认为Methanomassiliicoccus和Methanosarcina这2个菌属与CH_4排放量减少密切相关。     

温度对甲烷产生和氧化的影响

综述了温度对土壤产甲烷和氧化甲烷的影响及其机制．温度主要通过土壤中产甲烷菌的优势菌发生更替来改变土壤的产甲烷能力．较高温条件下产甲烷菌以乙酸和H2／CO2都能利用的甲烷八叠球菌(Methanosarcinaceae)为主,使得土壤处于较高的产甲烷状态．较低温条件下产甲烷菌以只能利用乙酸的甲烷毛菌(Methanosaetaceae)为主,土壤形成甲烷的能力相对较弱．温度提高可以显著地增加甲烷的产生,Q10为1．5-28,平均4．1,但是温度效应明显受控于底物浓度,提高底物浓度降低了产甲烷菌对底物的亲和力,相应地增加了度效应,因此在较低温条件下提高底物浓度可以促进甲烷的产生．温度对大气甲烷氧化的影响弱于产甲烷,甲烷氧化菌较少受温度变化的影响,即便在较低温条件下,土壤也具有一定的氧化大气甲烷能力,原因尚不清楚,可能与甲烷氧化菌对大气甲烷具有较高的亲和力有关,有待进一步研究．     

青藏高原三个盐碱湖的产甲烷菌群和产甲烷代谢途径分析

【目的】分析青藏高原不同类型盐碱湖中的优势产甲烷菌群和优势产甲烷代谢途径。【方法】以不同盐度和植被类型的公珠错、昆仲错和无植被的兹格塘错的沉积物为研究对象,通过高通量测序和q PCR定量古菌16S r RNA多样性分析优势古菌类群;模拟原位盐浓度及p H,比较不同产甲烷底物(甲醇、三甲胺、乙酸和H_2/CO_2)富集沉积物的产甲烷速率,分析其优势产甲烷菌代谢类型。通过添加产甲烷抑制剂(2-溴乙烷磺酸盐),检测沉积物中产甲烷底物积累,确定不同盐碱湖中主要的产甲烷途径。【结果】昆仲错的优势菌群包括甲基/乙酸型的甲烷八叠球菌科(Methanosarcinaceae,11%),乙酸型的甲烷鬃菌科(Methanosaetaceae,7.9%)和氢型甲烷菌甲烷杆菌目(Methanomicrobiales,7.4%);公珠错和兹格塘错的优势菌群为甲烷鬃菌科(Methanosaetaceae)分别占15%和15.3%,及甲烷杆菌属(Methanobacterium)和甲基型的甲烷叶菌属(Methanolobus)。公珠错和昆仲错分别以乙酸和甲醇产甲烷速率最高,而兹格塘错从不同底物产甲烷速率无差异。抑制甲烷产生后,公珠错主要积累乙酸,昆仲错主要积累甲醇;兹格塘错不仅甲烷排放低,也无产甲烷物质显著积累。【结论】昆仲错沉积物中的甲烷主要来自甲醇,公珠错中的甲烷主要来自乙酸,而兹格塘错产甲烷和底物积累不活跃。因而推测高原盐碱湖主要的产甲烷途径和菌群可能与周围植被类型的相关性更高,而与盐度的直接相关性较低。     

若尔盖高原湿地土壤氨氧化古菌的多样性

【目的】研究自然界中氨氧化古菌(ammonia-oxidizing archaea,AOA)对于理解全球氮循环起着至关重要的作用,但人们对高原湿地AOA种群生态还知之甚少。本研究旨在了解若尔盖高原湿地土壤AOA群落组成及多样性。【方法】从若尔盖高原阿西(A'xi)、麦西(Maixi)和分区(Fenqu)3个典型牧区采集土壤样品,提取土壤总DNA,利用AOA氨单加氧酶(ammonia monooxygenase,amoA)基因通用引物扩增amoA基因,构建amoA基因克隆文库。从每个克隆文库中随机挑选80个阳性克隆子用于后续限制性酶切片段长度多态性(restriction fragment length polymorphism,RFLP)分析,挑选不同酶切类型的克隆子进行测序、比对,利用MEGA 5.0软件构建amoA基因系统发育树。【结果】从3个克隆文库共240个AOA amoA基因阳性克隆中得到15条代表序列,通过Mothur软件进行OTUs(operational taxonomic units)分类得到7个不同的分类单元。其中OTU 6为优势类群,在3个克隆文库均有发现,约占所有特异性克隆子的27%。15条amoA基因序列分属于Zoige Wetland Clade 1(4 OTUs)、Zoige Wetland Clade 2(2 OTUs)和Zoige Wetland Clade 3(1OTU)3个系统发育分支。BLAST分析显示所有OTUs均归于泉古菌门(Crenarchaeota)。相关性分析表明,若尔盖高原湿地AOA多样性指数与土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量存在显著的相关性(P0.05)。【结论】若尔盖高原湿地中AOA多样性较低,均属于泉古菌,且与土壤中氨态氮和硝态氮密切相关。     

模拟增温对青海湖高寒湿地产甲烷菌群落特征的影响

高寒湿地生态系统作为重要的甲烷排放源, 对全球气候变暖有着较大的贡献率。湿地的产甲烷菌群落在温室气体排放中扮演着重要角色, 探究高寒湿地产甲烷菌群落结构及多样性对温度升高的响应十分重要。以青海湖高寒湿地为研究对象, 采用高通量测序方法开展研究。基于97%的序列相似度聚类, 10个土壤样品的总OTU数量为602个, 对照与增温处理样品的特有OTU数分别为30和43。与对照相比, 增温处理并未显著改变高寒湿地产甲烷菌群落的多样性指数及目水平优势菌群(P>0.05)。高寒湿地产甲烷菌均为广古菌门, 目水平以甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales, 67.35%)、八叠球菌目(Methanosarcinales, 14.14%)、甲烷杆菌目(Methanobacteriales, 10.21%)为优势菌群。Lefse分析表明, 增温后Methanomassiliicoccus相对丰度显著降低、Candidatus Methanogranum相对丰度显著升高。整体而言, 青海湖高寒湿地产甲烷菌群落组成及多样性较为稳定, 温度升高对产甲烷菌群落影响较小, Methanomassiliicoccus和Candidatus Methanogranum对温度变化较为敏感。     

黄河三角洲滨海湿地非培养放线菌多样性

【目的】利用免培养技术对黄河三角洲滨海湿地土壤中放线菌多样性进行分析。【方法】提取样品总DNA, 利用放线菌门特异引物扩增放线菌16S rRNA基因序列, 构建放线菌16S rRNA基因克隆文库, 文库经RFLP分析后挑选代表序列测序并进行多样性指数分析和系统发育分析。【结果】构建的放线菌16S rRNA基因克隆文库覆盖率(C)为96.3%, 116个测序序列可化分为46个OTUs, 58.7%的OTUs (27个)存在于放线菌亚纲(Actinobacteridae)放线菌目(Actinomycetales)的7个亚目中, 分布于10个科中, 其中弗兰克氏菌亚目(Frankineae)最多, 共7个OTUs, 有30.4%的OTUs (14个)存在于酸微菌亚纲(Acidimicrobidae)醋微菌亚目(Acidimicrobineae)中, 没有发现与红色杆菌亚纲(Rubrobacteridae)和科里氏杆菌亚纲(Coriobacteridae)亲缘关系较近的序列。有10.9%的OTUs序列与有效发表的所有类群无亲缘关系, 在进化树上成为一个独立的进化分支, 有可能代表新亚目或更高级分类单元的类群。【结论】黄河三角洲滨海湿地蕴含着丰富的放线菌物种多样性及潜在的放线菌新类群, 具有深一步研究的价值。     

Comparative analysis of methanogen diversity in the rumen of crossbred buffalo and cattle in the Philippines by using the functional gene mcrA

Comparative analyses of methanogen diversity in the rumen of crossbred buffalo and cattle fed the same diet in the Philippines was performed by cloning the methyl coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) gene. The cattle and buffalo libraries consisted of 50 clones each. Comparative analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed that these 2 libraries differed significantly (P?<?0.01). The deduced amino acid sequences of the clones were classified into 9 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in buffalo and 11 OTUs in cattle. Sequence similarity between the clones and known cultured methanogens ranged from 86 to 97?% for buffalo and 84 to 99?% for cattle. Methanobrevibacter species were predominant in buffalo (64?% of the clones), and an unknown mcrA was predominant in cattle (52?% of the clones). A large number of clones with low similarity to cultivated methanogens was observed in both buffalo and cattle, suggesting the presence of an unknown methanogen species in their rumen.     

Identification of Methanogenic archaea in the Hyporheic Sediment of Sitka Stream

Methanogenic archaea produce methane as a metabolic product under anoxic conditions and they play a crucial role in the global methane cycle. In this study molecular diversity of methanogenic archaea in the hyporheic sediment of the lowland stream Sitka (Olomouc, Czech Republic) was analyzed by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing analysis of the methyl coenzyme M reductase alpha subunit (mcrA) gene. Sequencing analysis of 60 clones revealed 24 different mcrA phylotypes from hyporheic sedimentary layers to a depth of 50 cm. Phylotypes were affiliated with Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales orders. Only one phylotype remains unclassified. The majority of the phylotypes showed higher affiliation with uncultured methanogens than with known methanogenic species. The presence of relatively rich assemblage of methanogenic archaea confirmed that methanogens may be an important component of hyporheic microbial communities and may affect CH₄ cycling in rivers.     

Site History and Edaphic Features Override the Influence of Plant Species on Microbial Communities in Restored Tidal Freshwater Wetlands

Restored wetland soils differ significantly in physical and chemical properties from their natural counterparts even when plant community compositions are similar, but effects of restoration on microbial community composition and function are not well understood. Here, we investigate plant-microbe relationships in restored and natural tidal freshwater wetlands from two subestuaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Soil samples were collected from the root zone of Typha latifolia, Phragmites australis, Peltandra virginica, and Lythrum salicaria. Soil microbial composition was assessed using 454 pyrosequencing, and genes representing bacteria, archaea, denitrification, methanogenesis, and methane oxidation were quantified. Our analysis revealed variation in some functional gene copy numbers between plant species within sites, but intersite comparisons did not reveal consistent plant-microbe trends. We observed more microbial variations between plant species in natural wetlands, where plants have been established for a long period of time. In the largest natural wetland site, sequences putatively matching methanogens accounted for ∼17% of all sequences, and the same wetland had the highest numbers of genes coding for methane coenzyme A reductase (mcrA). Sequences putatively matching aerobic methanotrophic bacteria and anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea (ANME) were detected in all sites, suggesting that both aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation are possible in these systems. Our data suggest that site history and edaphic features override the influence of plant species on microbial communities in restored wetlands.     

Microbial Community Diversity in the Gut of the South American Termite Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Termites inhabit tropical and subtropical areas where they contribute to structure and composition of soils by efficiently degrading biomass with aid of resident gut microbiota. In this study, culture-independent molecular analysis was performed based on bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA clone libraries to describe the gut microbial communities within Cornitermes cumulans, a South American litter-feeding termite. Our data reveal extensive bacterial diversity, mainly composed of organisms from the phyla Spirochaetes, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Fibrobacteres. In contrast, a low diversity of archaeal 16S rRNA sequences was found, comprising mainly members of the Crenarchaeota phylum. The diversity of archaeal methanogens was further analyzed by sequencing clones from a library for the mcrA gene, which encodes the enzyme methyl coenzyme reductase, responsible for catalyzing the last step in methane production, methane being an important greenhouse gas. The mcrA sequences were diverse and divided phylogenetically into three clades related to uncultured environmental archaea and methanogens found in different termite species. C. cumulans is a litter-feeding, mound-building termite considered a keystone species in natural ecosystems and also a pest in agriculture. Here, we describe the archaeal and bacterial communities within this termite, revealing for the first time its intriguing microbiota.     

Characterization of the methanogen community in a household anaerobic digester fed with swine manure in China

Household anaerobic digesters have been installed across rural China for biogas production, but information on methanogen community structure in these small biogas units is sparsely available. By creating clone libraries for 16S rRNA and methyl coenzyme M reductase alpha subunit (mcrA) genes, we investigated the methanogenic consortia in a household biogas digester treating swine manure. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were defined by comparative sequence analysis, seven OTUs were identified in the 16S rRNA gene library, and ten OTUs were identified in the mcrA gene library. Both libraries were dominated by clones highly related to the type strain Methanocorpusculum labreanum Z, 64.0 % for 16S rRNA gene clones and 64.3 % for mcrA gene clones. Additionally, gas chromatography assays showed that formic acid was 84.54 % of the total volatile fatty acids and methane was 57.20 % of the biogas composition. Our results may help further isolation and characterization of methanogenic starter strains for industrial biogas production.     

Temporal and spatial impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> invasion on methanogens community in Chongming Island,China

Methane production by methanogens in wetland is recognized as a significant contributor to global warming. Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora), which is an invasion plant in China’s wetland, was reported to have enormous effects on methane production. But studies on shifts in the methanogen community in response to S. alterniflora invasion at temporal and spatial scales in the initial invasion years are rare. Sediments derived from the invasive species S. alterniflora and the native species Phragmites australis (P. australis) in pairwise sites and an invasion chronosequence patch (4 years) were analyzed to investigate the abundance and community structure of methanogens using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) cloning of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) gene. For the pairwise sites, the abundance of methanogens in S. alterniflora soils was lower than that of P. australis soils. For the chronosequence patch, the abundance and diversity of methanogens was highest in the soil subjected to two years invasion, in which we detected some rare groups including Methanocellales and Methanococcales. These results indicated a priming effect at the initial invasion stages of S. alterniflora for microorganisms in the soil, which was also supported by the diverse root exudates. The shifts of methanogen communities after S. alterniflora invasion were due to changes in pH, salinity and sulfate. The results indicate that root exudates from S. alterniflora have a priming effect on methanogens in the initial years after invasion, and the predominate methylotrophic groups (Methanosarcinales) may adapt to the availability of diverse substrates and reflects the potential for high methane production after invasion by S. alterniflora.     

Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase A (mcrA) Gene-Based Investigation of Methanogens in the Mudflat Sediments of Yangtze River Estuary, China

Methanogen populations of an intertidal mudflat in the Yangtze River estuary of China were investigated based on the methyl coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) gene using 454-pyrosequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Samples were collected at six depths from three locations. In the qPCR analyses, a mean depth-wise change of mcrA gene abundance was observed from (1.23?±?0.13)×10⁷ to (1.16?±?0.29)×10⁸ per g dried soil, which was inversely correlated with the depletion of sulfate (R ²?=0.74; α?=?0.05) and salinity (R ²?=?0.66; α?=?0.05). The copy numbers of mcrA was at least 1 order of magnitude higher than dissimilatory sulfate reductase B (dsrB) genes, likely indicating the importance of methanogenesis at the mudflat. Sequences related to the orders Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales, Methanobacteriales, Methanococcales and the uncultured methanogens; Rice Cluster I (RC-I), Zoige cluster I (ZC-I) and anaerobic methane oxidizing archaeal lineage-1 (ANME-1) were detected. Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales dominated the entire sediment layers, but detectable changes of proportions were observed with depth. The hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanomicrobiales slightly increased with depth while Methanosarcinales showed the reverse. Chao1 and ACE richness estimators revealed higher diversity of methanogens near the surface (0–10 cm) when compared with the bottom sediments. The near-surface sediments were mainly dominated by the family Methanosarcinaceae (45 %), which has members that can utilize substrates that cannot be used by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Overall, current data indicate that Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales are the most dominant methanogens within the entire depth profile down to 100 cm, with higher abundance and diversity of methanogens in the deeper and upper sediment layers, respectively.     

Archaea diversity within a commercial biogas plant utilizing herbal biomass determined by 16S rDNA and mcrA analysis

Aims: The Archaea diversity was evaluated in an agricultural biogas plant supplied with cattle liquid manure and maize silage under mesophilic conditions. Methods and Results: Two different genes (16S rRNA; methyl‐coenzyme‐M‐reductase, MCR) targeted by three different PCR primer sets were selected and used for the construction of three clone libraries comprising between 104 and 118 clones. The clone libraries were analysed by restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP). Between 11 and 31 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected and assigned to orders Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales. Over 70% of all Archaea OTUs belong to the order Methanomicrobiales which mostly include hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Acetotrophic methanogens were detected in minor rates. Similar relative values were obtained by a quantitative real‐time PCR analysis. Conclusions: The results implied that in this biogas plant the most of the methane formation resulted from the conversion of H₂ and CO₂. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study reports, for the first time, a molecular analysis of the archaeal community in this type of agricultural biogas plants. Therein the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis seems to be the major pathway of methane formation. These results are in contrast with the common thesis that in biogas fermentations the primary substrate for methanogenesis is acetate.     

Conversion from natural wetlands to paddy field alters the composition of soil bacterial communities in Sanjiang Plain,Northeast China

The Sanjiang Plain is the largest freshwater wetlands in Northeast China. In order to feed the growing population, about 84 % of the wetlands in this area have been converted to farmland, especially to paddy fields, since the 1950s. However, little is known about the influence of this conversion on soil microbial community composition. In this study, soil samples were collected from two natural wetlands dominated by plant species Carex lasiocarpa and Deyeuxia angustifolia and from a neighboring paddy field that was changed from wetland more than 10 years ago. The composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the soils were estimated by clone library analysis of nearly full length of 16S rDNA sequences. The results revealed that bacterial diversity was higher in paddy fields, and that the composition of bacterial communities differed among the three samples; the difference was more notable between the paddy field and two natural wetlands than between two natural wetlands. The distribution of clones into different bacterial phyla differed among soil samples, and the conversion from natural wetlands to paddy field increased the abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes but decreased the abundance of Chloroflexi. About 63 % and 71 % of clones from two natural wetlands and 49 % of clones from the paddy field had <93 % similarity with known bacteria, suggesting that the majority of bacteria in natural wetland soils in the Sanjiang Plain are phylogenetically novel. In general, this study demonstrated that long-term conversion from natural wetlands to paddy field changes soil bacterial communities in the Sanjiang Plain.