Research
Theme 1
www.darwincenter.nl
Program 1060

Carbon recycling in peat bogs, with special emphasis on the role of methanotrophic symbionts
Program coordinator(s): Prof. dr. ir. M. S. M. Jetten
Theme(s): 1
Funding date: 11-jan-06

Abstract
Peatlands dominated by Sphagnum species (particularly in raised bogs) are important net accumulators of organic matter. Peat bogs in the Northern hemisphere store up to one-third of the carbon sequestered in soils, globally. However, studies show that increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations appear to have a rather limited effect on the growth of Sphagnum species. Refixation of carbon dioxide and methane derived from decomposition processes, however, has been unambiguously determined. We have collaboratively demonstrated that substrate derived CO2 provides an important carbon source for Sphagnum species and recently also that submerged Sphagnum mosses consume methane through symbiosis with partly endophytic methanotrophic bacteria, leading to highly effective in situ methane recycling. The aim of this project is to investigate the newly found symbiosis between methane oxidizing micro-organisms and Sphagnum with respect to the overall carbon sequestration efficiency of Sphagnum species, under various environmentally relevant conditions. By understanding the various biogeochemical processes, we expect to improve our understanding of the effects of global changes like increasing temperature and CO2 concentrations. Based on the actual occurrence of methanotrophic bacteria in peat bogs, we will develop proxies that will provide palaeoecological evidence for carbon recycling.

This program contains the following projects:
1061: Microbiology and biogeochemistry of peatland ecosystems
1062: Methane cycling in contemporary and ancient peats as revealed by microbial lipid biogeochemistry

Publications
Julia F. van Winden, Nardy Kip, Gert-Jan Reichart, Mike S.M. Jetten, Huub J.M. Op den Camp, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté (2010). Lipids of symbiotic methane-oxidizing bacteria in peat moss studied using stable carbon isotopic labelling. Organic Geochemistry41: 1040-1044.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Jetten M. S. M., Kip D. J., Reichart G. J., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., van Winden J. F.

Nardy Kip, Julia F. van Winden, Yao Pan, Levente Bodrossy, Gert-Jan Reichart, Alfons J. P. Smolders, Mike S. M. Jetten, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté and Huub J. M. Op den Camp (2010). Global prevalence of methane oxidation by symbiotic bacteria in peat-moss ecosystems. Nature Geosciences3: 617-621.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Jetten M. S. M., Kip D. J., Reichart G. J., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., van Winden J. F.

Brader, A.V., van Winden, J.F., Bohncke, S.J.P., Beets, C.J., Reichart, G.J., de Leeuw, J.W. (2010). Fractionation of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon isotopes in n-alkanes and cellulose of three Sphagnum species. Organic Geochemistry41: 1277-1284.
Darwin Center authors: Reichart G. J., van Winden J. F.

F. J. W. Parmentier, J. van Huissteden, N. Kip, H. J. M. Op den Camp, M. S. M. Jetten, T. C. Maximov, and A. J. Dolman (2010). The role of endophytic methane oxidizing bacteria in submerged Sphagnum in determining methane emissions of Northeastern Siberian tundra. Biogeosciences Discussions7: 8521-8551.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Dolman A. J., van Huissteden J., Jetten M. S. M., Kip D. J., Parmentier F. J. W.

Julia van Winden (2011). Methane cycling in peat bogs: Environmental relevance of methanotrophs revealed by microbial lipid chemistry.
Darwin Center authors: van Winden J. F.

Nardy Kip Wenjing Ouyang Julia van Winden Ashna Raghoebarsing Laura van Niftrik Arjan Pol Yao Pan Levente Bodrossy Elly G. van Donselaar Gert-Jan Reichart Mike S. M. Jetten Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté and Huub J. M. Op den Camp (2011). Detection, Isolation, and Characterization of Acidophilic Methanotrophs from Sphagnum Mosses. applied and environmental microbiology77: 5643-5654.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Jetten M. S. M., Kip D. J., van Niftrik L.A.M.P., Reichart G. J., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., van Winden J. F.

Parmentier, F.J.W., Van Huissteden, J., Kip, N., Op Den Camp, H.J.M., Jetten, M.S.M., Maximov, T.C., Dolman, A.J. (2011). The role of endophytic methane-oxidizing bacteria in submerged Sphagnum in determining methane emissions of Northeastern Siberian tundra . BiogeosciencesVolume 8, Issue 5: 1267-1278.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Dolman A. J., van Huissteden J., Jetten M. S. M., Kip D. J., Parmentier F. J. W.

Nardy Kip (2011). Methanotrophy in peatlands. March 2011.
Darwin Center authors: Kip D. J.

van Winden, J.F., Reichart, G.J., McNamara, N.P., Benthien, A., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. (2012). Temperature-induced increase in methane release from peat bogs: A mesocosm experiment. PloS One7:
Darwin Center authors: Reichart G. J., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., van Winden J. F.

van Winden, J.F., Talbot, H.M., De Vleeschouwer, F., Reichart, G.J., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. (2012). Variation in methanotroph-related proxies in peat deposits from Misten Bog, Hautes-Fagnes, Belgium. Organic Geochemistry53: 73-79.
Darwin Center authors: Reichart G. J., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., van Winden J. F.

N. Kip, C. Fritz, E. S. Langelaan, Y. Pan, L. Bodrossy, V. Pancotto, M. S. M. Jetten, A. J. P. Smolders, and H. J. M. Op den Camp (2012). Methanotrophic activity and diversity in different Sphagnum magellanicum dominated habitats in the southernmost peat bogs of Patagonia . Biogeosciences9: 47-55.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Jetten M. S. M., Kip D. J.