Metabolism of methane is an important part of the global carbon cycle. Methane is also recognized as one of the major contributors to the greenhouse effect, with its atmospheric concentration steadily increasing. Freshwater lakes are environments characterized by dynamic cycling of methane, serving both as major sources and major sinks. To better understand the methane cycle in Lake Washington, researchers are studying the mechanistic details of interspecies cooperation in order to better understand the role of microbial communities in environmental methane cycle. As part of this project, they are interested in deciphering the specific metabolic traits that may be responsible for the success of specific taxa in methane metabolism.
Proposer’s Name: Ludmila Chistoserdova, University of Washington