Data from: Bark microbiota modulate climate-active gas fluxes in Australian forests

The global surface area of tree bark is approximately equal to the total
global land surface area. Though recent studies suggest microbes inhabit
tree bark, little is known about their identities, functions, and
environmental roles. Here, we reveal, through genome-resolved
metagenomics, that tree bark hosts abundant and specialized microbial
communities. The predominant bacteria are hydrogen-cycling facultative
anaerobes adapted to dynamic redox and substrate conditions. Furthermore,
bark-associated methanotrophs are abundant and can coexist with
hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Microcosm experiments demonstrated that bark
microorganisms rapidly aerobically consume methane, hydrogen, and carbon
monoxide at in planta concentrations, but can produce these gases under
anoxia. Combined with in situ field measurements, we show tree-dwelling
microbiota process multiple climate-active gases at significant rates
within tree stems, highlighting an important research frontier within
global atmospheric cycles.