Synthetic Methane-Consuming Communities from a Natural Lake Sediment

Abstract

The metabolism of methane is an important part of the global carbon cycle. While deciphering the community function and the potential role of the different functional guilds is very difficult when considering native complex communities, synthetic communities, built of species originating from a study site in question, present a simplified model and allow specific questions to be addressed as to carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrient transfer among species in a controlled system. This study applies an ecophysiological approach, as a proof of principle, to an already well-studied model system, contributing to a better understanding of microbial community function and microbial ecosystem processes.