THE OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF METHANE-OXIDIZING BACTERIA IN MARINE SEDIMENTS

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Abstract
Using a modified Sohngen respiro-meter, methane-oxidizing bacteria were detected in 209 out of 299 one-g. sediment samples. Such bacteria are most abundant in the topmost 10 cm. of marine mud or oil-field soil. Several pure cultures were isolated by picking colonies from silica gel mineral-salts medium that had been streaked with enrichment cultures and incubated in an atmosphere of methane, O2 and CO2. Some of the cultures differed morphologically and physiologically from Methanomonas methanica. CO2 was required for the initiation of growth, 5 to 20% being best. An atmosphere consisting of 10% CO2, 40% O2 and 50% methane is recommended for cultivating methane-oxidizing bacteria in mineral soln. Some of the cultures could utilize ethane or propane as well as methane. The cultures were most active at 32[degree] C, pH 6 to 7 and at Eh > + 30 mv.
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