Thermophilic Archaeal Diversity and Methanogenesis from El Tatio Geyser Field,Chile |
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| Authors: | Megan F. Plenge Annette S. Engel Christopher R. Omelon Philip C. Bennett |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Geosciences, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA;2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA;3. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA |
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| Abstract: | The hydrothermal fluid chemistry at El Tatio Geyser Field (ETGF) in northern Chile suggests that biogenic CO2–CH4 cycling may play an important role in water chemistry, and relatively low sulfate (0.6–1 mM) and high molecular hydrogen (H2) concentrations (67–363 nM) suggest that methanogenic Archaea are present in ETGF microbial mats. In this study, δ13C analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon and methane was not indicative of biogenic methane production (δ13CCH4 values ranging from ?15‰ to ?5.3‰); however, methanogenic Archaea were successfully cultured from each of the hydrothermal sites sampled. Sanger sequencing using universal Archaea primers identified putative methanogenic orders with varying metabolic capabilities, including Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales. |
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| Keywords: | Archaea community structure methanogenesis |
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