Abstract
Microbial communities associated with a shallow hydrocarbon seep in the tropical Timor Sea, Australia
Proceedings of the 2006 University Research Conference, p.8
University Research Conference: Research Impact: Benefiting Society, 2006 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2006)
2006
Abstract
Natural hydrocarbon seeps emit methane and petroleum hydrocarbons sourced from deeply buried thermogenic reservoirs to surface sediments and the water column of the Timor Sea. Studies of microbial communities associated with a shallow (90m water depth) seep in the Timor Sea have been initiated in an attempt to characterise unique microbial diversity and gain insights into the organisms responsible for important biogeochemical processes associated with seepage. Samples were collected from sediments associated with a carbonate crust formation where intense plumes of methane emanate. Clone libraries of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes were generated from sediments (0-2 and 4-Scm below sea floor) using primers specific for the domain Archaea, analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). and representative phylotypes were sequenced. Both libraries were dominated by sequences of Crenarchaeota, which weremainly affiliated with Marine Group 1. The majority of sequences affiliated with existing archaeal 16S rRNA genes cloned from methane rich mud-volcanoes, hydrothermal vents and tropical marine sediments. No sequences affiliated with known anaerobic methanotrophs were detected. Preliminary work investigating functional genes involved in aerobic methane oxidation have shown that these genes are more abundant in seep associated sediments than in reference sediments, possibly indicating that aerobic methanotrophy may be important in thesediments analysed. Collectively, this work in conjunction with other geochemical studies so far indicate that known archaea involved in the anaerobic oxidation of methane are absent or in low numbers and that aerobic methanotrophic bacteria are possibly more important regulators of methane flux in the sediments examined.
Details
- Title
- Microbial communities associated with a shallow hydrocarbon seep in the tropical Timor Sea, Australia
- Authors
- Kenneth Wasmund (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
- Publication details
- Proceedings of the 2006 University Research Conference, p.8
- Conference details
- University Research Conference: Research Impact: Benefiting Society, 2006 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2006)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450066802621
- Output Type
- Abstract
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