Abstract
During the last twenty years, studies employing geochemical models, radiotracers, naturally occurring stable isotopes, and sample incubations have provided compelling evidence in support of anaerobic methane oxidation (Table 1). The first evidence came from geochemical models which show that “concave up” methane concentration profiles observed in many marine sediments can only be accounted for by consumption of methane in anoxic depth intervals. The models have been corroborated by radiotracer experiments which show that 14CH4 is converted to 14CO2 in anoxic systems. Distributions of naturally occurring stable isotopes provide further evidence of methane oxidation. The presence of 2H- and 13C-enriched CH4 is consistent with kinetic fractionation arising from methane consumption, while the presence of 13C-depleted CO2 implies oxidation of an isotopically “light” substrate (methane). Finally, time-series incubations have shown methane concentration decreases in contained anoxic samples. Given the independent nature of these approaches, the number of investigators, and the wide range of study sites, it is clear that methane is consumed in anoxic environments.
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Hoehler, T.M., Alperin, M.J. (1996). Anaerobic methane oxidation by a methanogen-sulfate reducer consortium: geochemical evidence and biochemical considerations. In: Lidstrom, M.E., Tabita, F.R. (eds) Microbial Growth on C1 Compounds. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0213-8_43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0213-8_43
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