title: Earthworm activity in a simulated landfill cover soil shifts the community composition of active methanotrophs.
abstract: Landfills represent a major source of methane in the atmosphere. In a previous study, we demonstrated that earthworm activity in landfill cover soil can increase soil methane oxidation capacity. In this study, a simulated landfill cover soil mesocosm (1 m × 0.15 m) was used to observe the influence of earthworms (Eisenia veneta) on the active methanotroph community composition, by analyzing the expression of the pmoA gene, which is responsible for methane oxidation. mRNA-based pmoA microarray analysis revealed that earthworm activity in landfill cover soil stimulated activity of type I methanotrophs (Methylobacter, Methylomonas, Methylosarcina spp.) compared to type II methanotrophs (particularly Methylocystis spp.). These results, along with previous studies of methanotrophs in landfill cover soil, can now be used to plan in situ field studies to integrate earthworm-induced methanotrophy with other landfill management practises in order to maximize soil methane oxidation and reduce methane emissions from landfills.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumaresan
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Héry
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodrossy
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stralis-Pavese
authors.forename: Ian P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J Colin
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008772:Methylococcaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042083:Methylocystaceae / Q000235:genetics; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D010105:Oxygenases; D008697:Methane