文摘
This study examined potential disturbances of methanotrophic communities playing a key role in reducing methane emissions from the peat bog Tasin Borskoye (Vladimir oblast, Russia), as a result of the wildfire in 2007. The potential activity of the methane-oxidizing filter in the burned peatland sites and the abundance of indigenous methanotrophic bacteria were significantly reduced in comparison to the undisturbed sites. Molecular analysis of the methanotrophic community structure by means of PCR amplification and cloning of the pmoA gene encoding particulate methane monooxygenase revealed the replacement of typical peat-inhabiting, acidophilic type II methanotrophic bacteria with type I methanotrophs, which are less active in acidic environments. In summary, both the structure and the activity of the methane-oxidizing filter in burned peatland sites underwent significant changes, which were clearly pronounced even after 7 years of the natural ecosystem recovery. These results point to the long-term character of the disturbances caused by wildfire in peatlands. Keywords northern wetlands wildfire in peatlands methanotrophic bacteria methane oxidation pmoA genes