Genetic and evolutionary constraints for the symbiosis between animals and methanogenic bacteria

It has been assumed that the feeding habits of animals predispose the composition of the microbial biota living in their intestinal tracts. Here we show that in arthropods and vertebrates the presence of methanogenic bacteria requires a quality of the host that is under phylogenetic rather than dietary constraint: competence for intestinal methanogenic bacteria is a primitive-shared character among reptiles, birds, and mammals, and a shared-derived trait of millipedes, termites, cockroaches and scarab beetles. The presence of methanogenic bacteria seems to be a prerequisite for the evolution of anatomic specializations of the intestinal tract such as hindguts, caeca or rumina, and it is likely that it also has consequences for the reproductive strategies of the animals.Methanogenic animals contribute to atmospheric methane by their breath and faeces. Because the status as either methane-producer or non-producer is shared by most species belonging to a higher taxonomic unit, it is possible to calculate methane emissions that are characteristic for whole taxa. In combination with ecological field data on the biomass it is possible to arive at estimates concerning the global contributions by animals.The demonstration of a genetic basis for the symbiosis between methanogens and animals will allow new approaches for the reduction of methane emission by domestic animals.     

A process-based model on methane emission with its oxidation process from rice fields and corresponding control indices

In this paper, a mathematical model is developed for net methane emission from rice fields by coupling methane production model with methane oxidation model. Several dynamical regimes were formed through qualitative analysis of the model, and corresponding dynamic features were interpreted through emission indices. Sensitivity of the model is discussed under the effects of temperature and oxygen concentration in methanogenic and methane oxidation phases, respectively, and interpreted by defining an index; in addition, control parameters are identified and their threshold limits defined. The out-busting emission tendency of methane is considered separately and a forcing strategy was defined to force emission level towards zero in the long term. Lastly, a complete control strategy is proposed for reducing methane emission.     

Methane emissions from ricefields as affected by organic amendment, water regime, crop establishment, and rice cultivar

Methane fluxes from Beijing ricefields as affected by organic amendment, water regime, crop establishment method, and rice cultivar were measured with a closed chamber method in 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1996. Total fluxes from plots receiving high organic amendment always exceeded those from the low-input plots. Compared with continuous flooding, intermittent irrigation (there were a few days of no standing water between two irrigations) and constant moisture (the field had no standing water, but remained saturated) reduced methane emission rate by 25.4 and 58.4%, respectively. Methane flux from a dry-seeded rice field was 75.2% lower than from a transplanted ricefield although both dry-seeded rice plots and transplanted ricefields were initially flooded at the same time. Rice cultivars differed in methane emission rates by 9.0–55.7%. Emission rates were positively correlated with aboveground dry matter production and root weight, but not grain yield. Intermittent irrigation and rice cultivar seem to be the most promising methods for mitigating methane emission from ricefields; they do not affect rice yield and are easily implemented at the farm level.     

Global methane emissions from the world coal industry

The Coal Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated the total methane emissions from worldwide mining, treatment and storage of coal to be approximately 25 million tonnes/year for 1990. Slightly more than one million tonnes of methane are utilized by the industry. Thus, the net annual discharge to the atmosphere is 24 million tonnes. Methane emissions data were available for the U.S., the U.K., former U.S.S.R., Australia, China, Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Methane emissions for India and S. Africa were estimated from a linear correlation between the average depth of mining and specific methane emissions derived from the available data for the eight countries. These ten largest coal producing countries represented nearly 90% of world coal production in 1990. Total methane emissions for the world coal industry were calculated by prorating the methane emissions from these ten countries in proportion to coal production.The reported values represent the best international data available at present. The net total emissions of 24 million tonnes/year are substantially less than some previously reported indirect estimations and constitute only 4 to 6% of the global methane emissions.     

Simultaneous measurements of dissolved CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and H<Subscript>2</Subscript> in wetland soils

Biogeochemical processes in wetland soils are complex and are driven by a microbiological community that competes for resources and affects the soil chemistry. Depending on the availability of various electron acceptors, the high carbon input to wetland soils can make them important sources of methane production and emissions. There are two significant pathways for methanogenesis: acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. The hydrogenotrophic pathway is dependent on the availability of dissolved hydrogen gas (H₂), and there is significant competition for available H₂. This study presents simultaneous measurements of dissolved methane and H₂ over a 2-year period at three tidal marshes in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Methane reservoirs show a significant correlation with dissolved organic carbon, temperature, and methane emissions, whereas the H₂ concentrations measured with dialysis samplers do not show significant relationships with these field variables. Data presented in this study show that increased dissolved H₂ reservoirs in wetland soils correlate with decreased methane reservoirs, which is consistent with studies that have shown that elevated levels of H₂ inhibit methane production by inhibiting propionate fermentation, resulting in less acetate production and hence decreasing the contribution of acetoclastic methanogenesis to the overall production of methane.     

Investigation on Temporal Variation in Methane Emission from Different Rice Cultivars under the Influence of Weeds

A study of temporal variation in methane efflux from the rice-fields indicated that weeds could modulate the CH4 emission by transporting atmospheric O2 more efficiently than rice plants to the rhizosphere, which suppressed CH4 formation in the oxic condition, inhibiting methanogenic activity. A more oxic environment in the sediment was reflected by the higher redox potential in the weed growing plots. Besides, cultivar differences in methane efflux might be attributed to various plant activities, more importantly root exudation, development of aerenchyma and the biomass. Peak emission of CH4 at the flowering stage in all the rice cultivars was associated with maximum extension of root mat, releasing exudates, which serve as carbon source for the methanogenic bacteria for CH4 formation.     

Mitigation Strategy to Contain Methane Emission from Rice-Fields

Methane is primarily a biogenic gas, which is implicated in global climate change. Among all the sources of methane emission, paddy fields form the most dominant source. An experiment was conducted with a common paddy crop (Oryza sativa var. Vishnuparag) by amending the soils with different organic manures and biofertilizers with a view to find out an inexpensive strategy to mitigate methane emission from the rice-fields. The results revealed that there was a seasonal change in the CH₄ flux, registering a peak at heading stage in all treatments. The application of rice straw before flooding and the biofertilizer after flooding enhances CH₄ efflux from the rice-fields significantly, while composts of cowdung and leaves did not stimulate CH₄ production and, rather, decreased CH₄ fluxes. As soil pH and temperature were optimum for methanogenesis, it was likely that the organic C and the redox potential mainly modulated methane production and its emission through rice plants.     

Enteric methane mitigation technologies for ruminant livestock: a synthesis of current research and future directions

Enteric methane (CH₄) emission in ruminants, which is produced via fermentation of feeds in the rumen and lower digestive tract by methanogenic archaea, represents a loss of 2% to 12% of gross energy of feeds and contributes to global greenhouse effects. Globally, about 80 million tonnes of CH₄ is produced annually from enteric fermentation mainly from ruminants. Therefore, CH₄ mitigation strategies in ruminants have focused to obtain economic as well as environmental benefits. Some mitigation options such as chemical inhibitors, defaunation, and ionophores inhibit methanogenesis directly or indirectly in the rumen, but they have not confirmed consistent effects for practical use. A variety of nutritional amendments such as increasing the amount of grains, inclusion of some leguminous forages containing condensed tannins and ionophore compounds in diets, supplementation of low-quality roughages with protein and readily fermentable carbohydrates, and addition of fats show promise for CH₄ mitigation. These nutritional amendments also increase the efficiency of feed utilization and, therefore, are most likely to be adopted by farmers. Several new potential technologies such as use of plant secondary metabolites, probiotics and propionate enhancers, stimulation of acetogens, immunization, CH₄ oxidation by methylotrophs, and genetic selection of low CH₄-producing animals have emerged to decrease CH₄ production, but these require extensive research before they can be recommended to livestock producers. The use of bacteriocins, bacteriophages, and development of recombinant vaccines targeting archaeal-specific genes and cell surface proteins may be areas worthy of investigation for CH₄ mitigation as well. A combination of different CH₄ mitigation strategies should be adopted in farm levels to substantially decrease methane emission from ruminants. Evidently, comprehensive research is needed to explore proven and reliable CH₄ mitigation technologies that would be practically feasible and economically viable while improving ruminant production.     

浅议规模化畜禽养殖业的污染防治对策

以规模化畜禽养殖业为调查对象,主要调查统计了蛋鸡、肉鸡、猪、肉牛、奶牛、羊。根据调查和数据统计,掌握了鞍山市规模化畜禽养殖业的特点及规模化畜禽养殖业污染物的排放量,并以此提出了污染防治对策。     

The rumen and hindgut as source of ruminant methanogenesis

The advantage of ruminants is their ability to convert fibrous biomass to high quality protein for human nutrition purposes. Rumen fermentation, however, is always associated with the formation of methane — a very effective greenhouse gas. Hindgut fermentation differs from rumen fermentation by a substantially lower methane production and the presence of reductive acetogenesis or dissimilatory sulfate reduction. Sulfate reduction and methanogenesis seem to be mutually exclusive, while methanogenesis and reductive acetogenesis may occur simultaneously in the hindgut. Although acetogenic bacteria have been isolated from the bovine rumen, methanogenesis prevails in the forestomachs. The substitution of acetate for methane as a hydrogen sink in the rumen should increase energy yield for the animal and decrease methane emissions into the environment. Differences in the major hydrogen sinks in both microbial ecosystems are discussed and mainly related to differences in substrate availability and to the absence of protozoa in the hindgut.     

Effectiveness of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies

Non-CO₂ greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, can make a relevant contribution to the enhanced greenhouse effect, and hence emission reduction is desirable. In emission reduction inventories, both the magnitude of the emission reduction as well as the specific emission reduction costs should be determined. The current knowledge of the potential for and costs of reducing these emissions is still limited. Taking this into account, the following results can be obtained. Methane emissions can be considerably reduced from underground coal mining, oil production, natural gas operations, landfilling of waste, and wastewater treatment. Also emissions from enteric fermentation and animal manure can be reduced substantially. The total technical potential for methane emission reduction (given the present activity level) is estimated to be about one third. The economic potential, having net negative emission reduction costs, is estimated to be about half of this value. These reductions can be attained over a period of 10 – 20 years. The technical potential for the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions is currently estimated to be less than 10% Apart from the possibility of implementing existing techniques, there seems to be considerable room for developing techniques for more far-reaching emission reductions both for methane and nitrous oxide.     

气相色谱法检测废气中甲烷、非甲烷总烃的问题研究

气相色谱法检测废气中甲烷、非甲烷总烃的方法存在诸多问题。针对标准参考气体的选择、采样方式、样品保存、配气方式、仪器配置等方面做了重点研究。结果表明,使用甲烷作为标准参考气体最佳,根据污染源的实际状况,可选择动力采样或玻璃注射器手动采样。样品气保存在惰性气袋中比玻璃注射器更好,实验分析更推荐双柱配置的气相色谱,手工配制标准气系列、使用填充柱也可很好的满足检测的质量要求。     

Methane emissions of differently fed dairy cows and corresponding methane and nitrogen emissions from their manure during storage

This study investigated the effects of supplementing 40 g lauric acid (C₁₂) kg^-1 dry matter (DM) in feed on methane emissions from early-lactating dairy cows and the associated effects on methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia release from the manure during storage. Stearic acid (C₁₈), a fatty acid without assumed methane-suppressing potential in the digestive tract of ruminants, was added at 40 g kg^-1 DM to a control diet. The complete feed consisted of forage and concentrate in a ratio of 1.5:1 (DM basis). The manure was stored for 14 weeks either as complete slurry or, separately, as urine-rich slurry and farmyard manure representing two common storage systems. Methane release of the cows, as measured in respiratory chambers, was lower with C₁₂ by about 20%, but this was mostly resulting from a reduced feed intake and, partly, from a lower rate of fibre digestion. As milk yield declined less than feed intake, methane emission per kg of milk was significantly lower with C₁₂ (11.4 g) than with C₁₈ (14.0 g). Faeces of C₁₂-fed cows had a higher proportion of undigested fibre and accordingly methane release from their manure was higher compared with the manure obtained from the C₁₈-fed cows. Overall, manure-derived methane accounted for8.2% and 15.4% of total methane after 7 and 14 weeks of storage, respectively. The evolution of methane widely differed between manure types and dietary treatments, with a retarded onset of release in complete slurry particularly in the C₁₂ treatment. Emissions of nitrous oxide were lower in the manures from the C₁₂ treatment. This partially compensated for the higher methane release from the C₁₂ manure with respect to the greenhouse gas potential. The total greenhouse gas potential (cow and manure together) accounted for 8.7 and 10.5 kg equivalents of CO₂ cow^-1 d^-1with C₁₂ and C₁₈, respectively. At unaffected urine-N proportion ammonia and total nitrogen losses from stored manure were lower with C₁₂ than with C₁₈ corresponding to the differences in feed and nitrogen intake. The present results suggest that manure storage significantly contributes to total methane emission from dairy husbandry, and that the identification of effective dietary mitigation strategies has to consider both the digestive tract of the animals and the corresponding manure.     

Application of the IPCC Waste Model to solid waste disposal sites in tropical countries: case study of Thailand

Measurements of landfill methane emission were performed at nine solid waste disposal sites in Thailand, including five managed sanitary landfills (four deep and one shallow landfills) and four unmanaged landfills (three deep and one shallow dumpsites). It was found that methane emissions during the rainy season were about five to six times higher than those during the winter and summer seasons in the case of managed landfills and two to five times higher in the case of unmanaged landfills. Methane emission estimate using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Waste Model was compared with the actual field measurement from the studied disposal sites with methane correction factors and methane oxidation factors that were obtained by error function analysis with default values of half-life parameters. The methane emissions from the first-order decay model from the IPCC Waste Model yielded fair results compared to field measurements. The best fitting values of methane correction factor were 0.65, 0.20, 0.15, and 0.1 for deep landfills, shallow landfills, deep dumpsites, and shallow dumpsites, respectively. Using these key parameters in the case of Thailand, it was estimated that 89.22 Gg of methane were released from solid waste disposal sites into the atmosphere in 2006.     

Environmental impact and adaptation study of pig farming relocation in China

Under the guidance of agri-food and water resources policies, some pig farms in China have gradually shifted their production from the Constrained Zone with a dense population and sensitive environment to the Potential Zone with richer feed resources and large environmental capacity. To evaluate whether the relocation is consistent with sustainable consumption and production, the study took the Key Zone with large pig production and supply as comparison object, constructed a life cycle assessment (LCA) model of pig production in the Constrained, Key, and Potential zones. The environmental impacts caused by the production of 1 ton of pork in these zones were 24.67 PE, 20.11 PE, and 20.44 PE, respectively, indicating that raising pigs in the Key and Potential zones is more environment-friendly than that in the Constrained Zone. Therefore, the relocation of pig farms from the Constrained Zone to the Potential Zone was found to be suitable for protecting water resources and environmental quality. Additionally, the Key Zone can maintain and even increase the existing breeding scale without transferring farms to the Potential Zone. LCA results showed that pork production has significant impacts on cancer risk, freshwater ecotoxicity, terrestrial eutrophication, and terrestrial acidification. Additionally, a majority of the environmental impacts result from crop and pig production, which are key processes in improving the pork supply chain. The soybean import ratio and feed conversion ratio are important indicators for reducing environmental impacts.Statement of noveltyTo evaluate whether pig farm relocation in China is consistent with sustainable consumption and production, a life cycle assessment (LCA) model of pig production in the Constrained, Key, and Potential zones was conducted. According to the results, relocating farms from the Constrained Zone to the Key and Potential zones was more environment-friendly. The Key Zone can maintain and even increase the existing breeding scale without transferring the farms to the Potential Zone. LCA results showed that the majority of the environmental impacts result from crop and pig production. Thus, further guidance and education can be provided to farmers in the Potential and Key zones. In addition, sensitivity analysis indicated that large-scale farms should reduce the feed conversion ratio to reduce environmental impacts.     

Ground level volume mixing ratio of methane in a tropical coastal city

Urban regions are hotspots of greenhouse gas emissions which include CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, etc. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas which is produced from a number of sources including fossil fuel combustion, municipal waste, and sewage processing, etc. Ground level mixing ratio of methane in the tropical coastal city of Thiruvananthapuram in South India, during calm early morning period was measured. Measurements were done during both winter and summer seasons. Concentrations were significantly higher than global average value. Intra-city variation in ground level mixing ratio was also significant. Ground level methane concentration at Thiruvananthapuram urban area showed maximum value of 3.16 ppmV. Under stable atmospheric conditions in early morning, ground level mixing ratio of methane was 2.79 ppmV in winter and 2.54 ppmV during summer. The spatial distribution of methane concentration shows correlation with urban heat island.     

Metabolic regulation in methanogenic archaea during growth on hydrogen and CO2

Methanogenic Archaea represent a unique group of micro-organisms in their ability to derive their energy for growth from the conversion of their substrates to methane. The common substrates are hydrogen and CO₂. The energy obtained in the latter conversion is highly dependent on the hydrogen concentration which may dramatically vary in their natural habitats and under laboratory conditions. In this review the bio-energetic consequences of the variations in hydrogen supply will be investigated. It will be described how the organisms seem to be equipped as to their methanogenic apparatus to cope with extremes in hydrogen availability and how they could respond to hydrogen changes by the regulation of their metabolism.Abbreviations Coenzyme F₄₂₀ 5-dezaflavin derivative - F₄₂₀H₂ 1,5-dihydro-F₄₂₀ - F₃₉₀ 8-adenylylated-(F₃₉₀-A) or 8-OH-guanylylated-(F₃₉₀-G)-F₄₂₀ - H₄MPT 5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin - HS-CoM coenzyme M, 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate - methyl-S-CoM 2-methylthioethanesulfonate - HS-HTP 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate - CoM-S-S-HTP heterodisulfide of HS-CoM and HS-HTP - FDH formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase - FRH coenzyme F₄₂₀-reducing hydrogenase - HDR heterodisulfide reductase - MCR methylcoenzyme M reductase - MDH 5,10-methylene-H₄MPT dehydrogenase - MVH non-coenzyme F₄₂₀, Viologen-reducing hydrogenase     

Determination of nickel, copper, zinc and lead in human scalp hair in Syrian occupationally exposed workers by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

In this study, an attempt has been made to study methane flux and quantification of heavy metals from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill areas of selected cities in India. During the period of study, the average value of methane flux was estimated from these landfill areas varied from 146–454 mg/m2/h. Methane emission from landfill is of serious environmental global concern as it accounts for approximately 15 percentages of current Greenhouse gas emissions. It has been estimated that methane emission, from landfill areas in the world, in next two decades would be same as that what is emitted from paddy fields presently. Besides, the estimation of methane flux, quantification of some heavy metals was conducted to analyse the suitability of using MSW as compost. The average values for metals were observed to be both within the range of USEPA and Indian standards for MSW disposal in landfill areas and to be used as compost respectively.     

Methane emission from naturally ventilated livestock buildings can be determined from gas concentration measurements

Determination of emission of contaminant gases as ammonia, methane, or laughing gas from natural ventilated livestock buildings with large opening is a challenge due to the large variations in gas concentration and air velocity in the openings. The close relation between calculated animal heat production and the carbon dioxide production from the animals have in several cases been utilized for estimation of the ventilation air exchange rate for the estimation of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. Using this method, the problem of the complicated air velocity and concentration distribution in the openings is avoided; however, there are still some important issues remained unanswered: (1) the precision of the estimations, (2) the requirement for the length of measuring periods, and (3) the required measuring point number and location. The purpose of this work was to investigate how estimated average gas emission and the precision of the estimation are influenced by different calculation procedures, measuring period length, measure point locations, measure point numbers, and criteria for excluding measuring data. The analyses were based on existing data from a 6-day measuring period in a naturally ventilated, 150 milking cow building. The results showed that the methane emission can be determined with much higher precision than ammonia or laughing gas emissions, and, for methane, relatively precise estimations can be based on measure periods as short as 3 h. This result makes it feasible to investigate the influence of feed composition on methane emission in a relative large number of operating cattle buildings and consequently it can support a development towards reduced greenhouse gas emission from cattle production.     

Flux estimates from soil methanogenesis and methanotrophy: Landfills,rice paddies,natural wetlands and aerobic soils

Present and future annual methane flux estimates out of landfills, rice paddies and natural wetlands, as well as the sorption capacity of aerobic soils for atmospheric methane, are assessed. The controlling factors and uncertainties with regard to soil methanogenesis and methanotrophy are also briefly discussed.The actual methane emission rate out of landfills is estimated at about 40 Tg yr^–1. Changes in waste generation, waste disposal and landfill management could have important consequences on future methane emissions from waste dumps. If all mitigating options can be achieved towards the year 2015, the CH₄ emission rate could be reduced to 13 Tg yr^–1. Otherwise, the emission rate from landfills could increase to 63 Tg yr^–1 by the year 2025. Methane emission from rice paddies is estimated at 60 Tg yr^–1. The predicted increase of rice production between the years 1990 and 2025 could cause an increase of the CH₄ emission rate to 78 Tg yr^–1 by the year 2025. When mitigating options are taken, the emission rate could be limited to 56 Tg yr^–1. The methane emission rate from natural wetlands is about 110 Tg yr^–1. Because changes in the expanse of natural wetland area are difficult to assess, it is assumed that methane emission from natural wetlands would remain constant during the next 100 years. Because of uncertainties with regard to large potential soil sink areas (e.g. savanna, tundra and desert), the global sorption capacity of aerobic soils for atmospheric methane is not completely clear. The actual estimate is 30 Tg yr^–1.In general, the net contribution of soils and landfills to atmospheric methane is estimated at 180 Tg yr^–1 (210 Tg yr^–1 emission, 30 Tg yr^–1 sorption). This is 36% of the global annual methane flux (500 Tg yr^–1).