This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Williams, R. T. Articles by Crawford, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Williams, R. T. Articles by Crawford, R. L. Agricola Articles by Williams, R. T. Articles by Crawford, R. L.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1984 June; 47(6): 1266-1271
Copyright © 1984, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Methane Production in Minnesota Peatlands

University of Minnesota, Gray Freshwater Biological Institute, Navarre, Minnesota 55392

ABSTRACT

Rates of methane production in Minnesota peats were studied. Surface (10- to 25-cm) peats produced an average of 228 nmol of CH₄ per g (dry weight) per h at 25°C and ambient pH. Methanogenesis rates generally decreased with depth in ombrotrophic peats, but on occasion were observed to rise within deeper layers of certain fen peats. Methane production was temperature dependent, increasing with increasing temperature (4 to 30°C), except in peats from deeper layers. Maximal methanogenesis from these deeper regions occurred at 12°C. Methane production rates were also pH dependent. Two peats with pHs of 3.8 and 4.3 had an optimum rate of methane production at pH 6.0. The addition to peat of glucose and H₂-CO₂ stimulated methanogenesis, whereas the addition of acetate inhibited methanogenesis. Cysteine-sulfide, nitrogen-phosphorus-trace metals, and vitamins-yeast extract affected methane production very little. Various gases were found to be trapped or dissolved (or both) within peatland waters. Dissolved methane increased linearly to a depth of 210 cm. The accumulation of metabolic end products produced within peat bogs appears to be an important mechanism limiting carbon turnover in peatland environments.

^* Corresponding author.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Hamberger, A., Horn, M. A., Dumont, M. G., Murrell, J. C., Drake, H. L. (2008). Anaerobic Consumers of Monosaccharides in a Moderately Acidic Fen. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 3112-3120 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kotsyurbenko, O. R., Friedrich, M. W., Simankova, M. V., Nozhevnikova, A. N., Golyshin, P. N., Timmis, K. N., Conrad, R. (2007). Shift from Acetoclastic to H2-Dependent Methanogenesis in a West Siberian Peat Bog at Low pH Values and Isolation of an Acidophilic Methanobacterium Strain. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 2344-2348 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Metje, M., Frenzel, P. (2005). Effect of Temperature on Anaerobic Ethanol Oxidation and Methanogenesis in Acidic Peat from a Northern Wetland. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 8191-8200 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Castro, H., Ogram, A., Reddy, K. R. (2004). Phylogenetic Characterization of Methanogenic Assemblages in Eutrophic and Oligotrophic Areas of the Florida Everglades. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 6559-6568 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Horn, M. A., Matthies, C., Kusel, K., Schramm, A., Drake, H. L. (2003). Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenesis by Moderately Acid-Tolerant Methanogens of a Methane-Emitting Acidic Peat. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 74-83 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Smith, A. T. (1995). Environmental factors affecting global atmospheric methane concentrations. Progress in Physical Geography 19: 322-335 [Abstract]