Fluctuations in populations of subsurface methane oxidizers in coordination with changes in electron acceptor availability

The concentrations of electron donors and acceptors in the terrestrial subsurface biosphere fluctuate due to migration and mixing of subsurface fluids, but the mechanisms and rates at which microbial communities respond to these changes are largely unknown. Subsurface microbial communities exhibit l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology ecology 2018-07, Vol.94 (7)
Main Authors: Magnabosco, C, Timmers, P H A, Lau, M C Y, Borgonie, G, Linage-Alvarez, B, Kuloyo, O, Alleva, R, Kieft, T L, Slater, G F, van Heerden, E, Sherwood Lollar, B, Onstott, T C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaea
Archaea - classification
Archaea - genetics
Archaea - metabolism
Availability
Bacteria - classification
Bacteria - genetics
Bacteria - metabolism
Biomonitoring
Biosphere
Composition
Coordination
Ecology
Electrons
Geologic Sediments - microbiology
Metagenomics
Metagenomics - methods
Methane
Methane - metabolism
Methane oxidation
Microbial activity
Microbiology
Microbiota - physiology
Microorganisms
Oxidation
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxidizing agents
Populations
Proteomics - methods
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics
Subsurface
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Summary:The concentrations of electron donors and acceptors in the terrestrial subsurface biosphere fluctuate due to migration and mixing of subsurface fluids, but the mechanisms and rates at which microbial communities respond to these changes are largely unknown. Subsurface microbial communities exhibit long cellular turnover times and are often considered relatively static-generating just enough ATP for cellular maintenance. Here, we investigated how subsurface populations of CH4 oxidizers respond to changes in electron acceptor availability by monitoring the biological and geochemical composition in a 1339 m-below-land-surface (mbls) fluid-filled fracture over the course of both longer (2.5 year) and shorter (2-week) time scales. Using a combination of metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and metaproteomic analyses, we observe that the CH4 oxidizers within the subsurface microbial community change in coordination with electron acceptor availability over time. We then validate these findings through a series of 13C-CH4 laboratory incubation experiments, highlighting a connection between composition of subsurface CH4 oxidizing communities and electron acceptor availability.
ISSN:1574-6941
0168-6496
1574-6941
DOI:10.1093/femsec/fiy089