Physiology and Distribution of Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane by Archaeal Methanotrophs

Abstract

Methane is oxidized in marine anaerobic environments, where sulfate rich sea water meets biogenic or thermogenic methane. In those niches, few phylogeneticslly distinct microbial types, i.e. anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME), are able to grow through anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). Due to the relevance of methane in the global carbon cycle, ANME draw the attention of a broad scientific community since five decades. This chapter presents and discusses the microbiology and physiology of ANME up to the recent discoveries, revealing novel physiological types of anaerobic methane oxidizers which challenge the view of obligate syntrophy for AOM. The drivers shaping the distribution of ANME in different marine habitats, from cold seep sediments to hydrothermal vents, are overviewed. Multivariate analyses of the abundance of ANME in various habitats identify a distribution of distinct ANME types driven by the mode of methane transport. Intriguingly, ANME have not yet been cultivated in pure culture, despite of intense attempts. Further, advances in understanding this microbial process are hampered by insufficient amounts of enriched cultures. This review discusses the advantages, limitations and potential improvements for ANME cultivation systems and AOM study approaches.