International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 312-320 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 312 Research Insight Open Access Microbial Metabolism and Flux of Methane (CH4) in Marine Sediments and Water Columns Ming Li, Congbiao You Hainan Tropical Agricultural Resources Research Institute, Tropical Microbial Resources Research Center, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding author: congbiao.you@hitar.org International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0035 Received: 05 Aug., 2024 Accepted: 25 Sep., 2024 Published: 10 Oct., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li and You, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproductio4n in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li M., and You C.B., 2024, Microbial metabolism and flux of methane (CH4) in marine sediments and water columns, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(5): 312-320 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0035) Abstract Studying the mechanisms by which microbial metabolism in marine sediments and water bodies affects methane production and consumption is of great significance for understanding global methane flux and its contribution to greenhouse effect. This study focuses on the microbial metabolism and flux of methane (CH4) in marine sediments and water bodies, as well as its importance in the global methane cycle. With the impact of climate change and human activities, the dynamics of methane in marine systems may undergo significant changes. Therefore, in-depth exploration of the role of microbial communities in methane metabolism and the influence of environmental factors on it can help better predict future trends in methane emissions and provide scientific basis for responding to climate change. Keywords Methane cycle; Microbial metabolism; Marine sediments; Climate change; Methane oxidation 1 Introduction Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas with significant implications for global climate change. In marine systems, methane is produced primarily in anoxic sediments by methanogenic archaea through the anaerobic degradation of organic matter (Conrad, 2020). The majority of this methane is oxidized before it reaches the atmosphere, primarily through sulfate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (S-AOM) in the sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) (Wallenius et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021). However, methane can also be oxidized aerobically by methanotrophic bacteria in the upper layers of sediments and water columns (Taubert et al., 2019). The balance between methane production and oxidation is influenced by various biogeochemical processes and environmental factors, including the availability of electron acceptors, organic matter inputs, and redox conditions (Aromokeye et al., 2020; Rahmati-Abkenar et al., 2021). Understanding methane metabolism in marine environments is crucial due to its role in the global carbon cycle and its impact on climate change. Methane emissions from marine systems, such as coastal sediments, methane seeps, and gas hydrates, contribute significantly to atmospheric methane levels (Dean et al., 2018; Taubert et al., 2019). The microbial processes that control methane production and oxidation are complex and involve various functional guilds of microorganisms, including methanogens, methanotrophs, and other associated microbial communities (Taenzer et al., 2020). Studying these processes helps in predicting future methane emissions and developing strategies to mitigate their impact on climate change. This study integrates current knowledge on microbial methane metabolism and methane flux in marine sediments and water columns. It will cover key microbial processes involved in methane production and oxidation, environmental factors affecting these processes, and the impact of climate change on methane emissions. We will also focus on the latest developments in methane kinetic modeling and identification of microbial participants involved in the methane cycle. To gain a comprehensive understanding of methane metabolism in the ocean system and its importance for global methane budgeting and climate prediction. 2 Microbial Communities Involved in Methane Metabolism 2.1 Methanogens in marine sediments Methanogens are a group of archaea responsible for the production of methane in anoxic marine sediments. These
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