The anaerobic oxidation of short-chain alkanes in hydrothermal vents

Abstract

Microorganisms are central to the cycling of methane on Earth. The anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is a globally important process in anoxic marine sediments, which is often coupled to the reduction of sulfate by anaerobic methanotroph (ANME) archaea and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). However, the environmental and geochemical conditions that constrain these microbial communities remain largely uncharacterized. In this dissertation, I present evidence that methane and C2-C4 alkanes are substantial sources of metabolic energy in sedimented hydrothermal vent systems. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate that AOM and C2-C4 alkane oxidation linked to sulfate reduction (SR) are governed by temperature and substrate availability.