Microbial community of Lake Sonachi

The objectives of this study were to (i) uncover the contribution of geogenic and biogenic sources to the bulk of dissolved CH4, (ii) identify key microbial players and interactions at different lake compartments (i.e., oxic/anoxic water layers and sediments). We tested the hypothesis that, regardless of geogenic sources, the oversaturation of methane in oxic lake waters can be promoted by microbial community structuring and cell-to-cell interactions up to unexpectedly high levels.
Conclusion:
Our findings provide insights towards understanding how hydrogeochemical features, the origin of carbon sources, and microbial community profiles could lead to an exceptionally high concentration of dissolved biogenic methane in a meromictic soda lake. As lake functioning is influenced by water stratification and primary production under oxic and anoxic conditions, both genotypic and phenotypic microbial community changes can affect methane fluxes, with direct yet overlooked consequences for greenhouse gas emissions and climate feedbacks under accelerating global trends of lake eutrophication.
Notes:
The microbial flow cytometric profiles were used to quantify all major components of the microbial community across the water column of the Lake Sonachi. Targets included: autofluorescent photosynthetic microorganisms (microalgae, cyanobacteria), Sybr-stained microorganisms (heterotrophic Bacteria and Archaea), suspended microbial aggregates. Deconvolving cytometric microbial subgroups