Examining the Role of Methanogenesis in Pitcher Plant-Associated Microbiomes
Additional Funding Sources
This project was made possible by the NSF Idaho EPSCoR Program, by the National Science Foundation under Award No. OIA-1757324 and is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology Program under Grant No. 2010715.
Abstract
In wetland habitats, the combination of anoxic soil and climate results in unique microbial-plant interactions. One such interaction is the roles of methanogens (methane producers) and methanotrophs (methane consumers). These organisms are essential for unlocking organic and inorganic compounds for plant use and as a result, experience selective pressure favoring their survival (Szubryt, 2020). To identify key players in the methane cycle in these environments, we examined the aquatic microbial communities found with Sarracenia and Nepenthes pitcher plants. These organisms were shown to be ideal subjects for examining isolated microbial communities (Bittleston, et al. 2018). Furthermore, carnivorous pitcher plants have evolved convergently in wetland habitats globally, which demonstrates the utilization of a common environmental niche. The composition of the microbial community within pitcher plants has shown to be unique in its microbial composition when compared to other freshwater and soil environments, suggesting that there is a direct influence by the plant to establish these communities. In our study we examined the prevalence and composition of methane-related gene pathways within the microbiomes of Nepenthes (Southeast Asian pitcher plants) Sarracenia (North American pitcher plants), and three freshwater lakes. We then picked three of the gene pathways to determine the identity of the microbes responsible for implementing these processes.
Examining the Role of Methanogenesis in Pitcher Plant-Associated Microbiomes
In wetland habitats, the combination of anoxic soil and climate results in unique microbial-plant interactions. One such interaction is the roles of methanogens (methane producers) and methanotrophs (methane consumers). These organisms are essential for unlocking organic and inorganic compounds for plant use and as a result, experience selective pressure favoring their survival (Szubryt, 2020). To identify key players in the methane cycle in these environments, we examined the aquatic microbial communities found with Sarracenia and Nepenthes pitcher plants. These organisms were shown to be ideal subjects for examining isolated microbial communities (Bittleston, et al. 2018). Furthermore, carnivorous pitcher plants have evolved convergently in wetland habitats globally, which demonstrates the utilization of a common environmental niche. The composition of the microbial community within pitcher plants has shown to be unique in its microbial composition when compared to other freshwater and soil environments, suggesting that there is a direct influence by the plant to establish these communities. In our study we examined the prevalence and composition of methane-related gene pathways within the microbiomes of Nepenthes (Southeast Asian pitcher plants) Sarracenia (North American pitcher plants), and three freshwater lakes. We then picked three of the gene pathways to determine the identity of the microbes responsible for implementing these processes.