Anaerobic methane oxidation in soils and water ecosystems

The process of anaerobic methane oxidation has been studied for over 30 years on the example of bottom marine sediments and fresh water ecosystems. This paper presents a review of the results of these investigations. It is also demonstrated that this process can proceed not only in submerged but also in drained peat and automorphic sod-podzol soils. The latter soils continue to absorb methane after anaerobic conditions are created and an inhibitor of methane monooxygenase (acetylene) is introduced. Oxidated compounds (nitrates, sulphates) are stimulatory to gas absorption; deoxidated nitrogen compounds (ammonium chloride) do not produce significant changes. Incubation with the addition of nitrates and sulphates in an atmosphere of argon and methane results in an increase in the fraction and abundance of archaea in the soil. This is in agreement with the data obtained for aquatic inhabits.