Methanotroph communities in termite mounds
Termites are a significant natural source of the greenhouse gas methane, yet, termite mounds mitigate approximately half of termite methane emissions. Mound-dwelling, aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) are responsible for the reduction in methane emissions, but they have not been resolved. In this study, we assessed the abundance, composition, and methane oxidation activity of the methanotroph communities in the mounds of three distinct termite species sampled from Northern Australia.