Decline of Activity and Shifts in the Methanotrophic Community Structure of an Ombrotrophic Peat Bog after Wildfire

• Published in: Mikrobiologija (Moskva. 1932) Vol. 84; no. 5; p. 546
• Main Authors: Danilova, O V, Belova, S E, Kulichevskaya, I S, Dedysh, S N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Fires; Gene Expression; Methylococcaceae - classification; Methylococcaceae - enzymology; Methylococcaceae - genetics; Methylocystaceae - classification; Methylocystaceae - enzymology; Methylocystaceae - genetics; Microbial Consortia - genetics; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygenases - genetics; Oxygenases - metabolism; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Soil; Soil Microbiology; Time Factors; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0026-3656
• DOI: 10.7868/s0026365615050043

This study examined potential disturbances of methanotrophic communities playing a key role in reducing methane emissions from the peat bog Tasin Borskoye, Vladimir oblast, Russia as a result of the 2007 wildfire. The potential activity of the methane-oxidizing filter in the burned peatland site and the abundance of indigenous methanotrophic bacteria were significantly reduced in comparison to the undisturbed site. Molecular analysis of methanotrophic community structure by means of PCR amplification and cloning of the pmoAgene encoding particulate methane monooxygenase revealed the replacement of typical peat-inhabiting, acidophilic type II methanotrophic bacteria with type I methanotrophs, which are less active in acidic environments. In summary, both the structure and the activity of the methane-oxidizing filter in burned peatland sites underwent significant changes, which were clearly pronounced even after 7 years of the natural ecosystem recovery. These results point to the long-term character of the disturbances caused by wildfire in peatlands.