Comparative Study of Methanogenic Pathways in the Sediments of Thermokarst and Polygenetic Yamal Lakes

Comparative study of methanogen diversity and potential activity of different methanogenic pathways in the sediments of young thermokarst and mature polygenetic Yamal lakes was carried out. The hydrogenotrophic pathway of methanogenesis played an important role in methane formation in thermokarst lakes. The acetoclastic and methylotrophic pathways were also revealed there. In a polygenetic lake with a dissolved organic matter content closest to that of the thermokarst lakes, methanogenesis proceeded more intensively, and the relative abundance of methanogens, especially acetoclastic ones, was higher than in thermokarst lakes. The activity of methyl-reducing methanogens was also assumed there. Methanogens of the genera Methanothrix and Methanoregula, as well as representatives of the family Methanomassiliicoccaceae were identified in the sediments of all lakes. Methane-oxidizing bacteria (Methylobacter, Candidatus Methylomirabilis) and archaea (Ca. Methanoperedens) were also detected.

Automated summary

The study found that the hydrogenotrophic pathway dominated in thermokarst lakes, while the acetoclastic pathway was more abundant in polygenetic lakes with higher dissolved organic matter content.