Methanotrophic communities of Saanich Inlet: A microcosm perspective

Saanich Inlet (British Columbia, Canada) is a seasonally anoxic fjord characterized by high rates of both methane production and consumption. In this study, the diversity of microbial populations residing in intermediate waters, characterized by having a high methane content, was assessed using CH4-microcosm experiments coupled with PCR surveys of phylogenetic (16S rRNA gene) and functional gene markers (pmoA and fhcD genes). The experiments revealed that bacteria represented by sequences affiliated with Methylomicrobium within the Methylococcales, Methylophaga and Cycloclasticus within the Thiotrichales, and uncultured Planctomycetes were enriched in response to CH4 addition.