What the study found
The study found that bark on eight common Australian tree species hosts abundant, specialized microbial communities. These tree-bark microbes were shown to metabolize several climate-active gases, including methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that tree-dwelling microbiota metabolize multiple climate-active gases at marked rates within tree stems. They suggest this points to a potentially substantial role in global atmospheric cycles.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used gene-centric and genome-resolved metagenomics to study bark microbes from eight Australian tree species. They also ran microcosm experiments and combined those results with in situ field measurements.
What worked and what didn't
The predominant bacteria were hydrogen-cycling facultative anaerobes, meaning they can use hydrogen and tolerate both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor conditions. Bark-associated methanotrophs, microbes that consume methane, were abundant and could coexist with hydrogenotrophic methanogens, which produce methane.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations. The findings are based on eight common Australian tree species and the conditions tested in microcosms and field measurements.
Key points
- Bark on eight Australian tree species contained abundant, specialized microbial communities.
- The dominant bacteria were hydrogen-cycling facultative anaerobes adapted to changing redox and substrate conditions.
- Bark-associated methanotrophs were abundant and coexisted with hydrogenotrophic methanogens.
- Bark microorganisms aerobically consumed methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide at in planta concentrations.
- Under anoxic conditions, bark microorganisms produced these gases.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Tree bark microbes consume and produce climate-active gases
- Authors:
- Pok Man Leung, Luke C. Jeffrey, Sean K. Bay, Paula Gomez-Alvarez, Montgomery Hall, Scott G. Johnston, Johannes Dittmann, Elisabeth Deschaseaux, Billie Hopkins, Jasmine B. Haskell, Thanavit Jirapanjawat, Tess F. Hutchinson, Nicholas V. Coleman, Xiyang Dong, Damien T. Maher, Chris Greening
- Institutions:
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Fujian Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Monash University, Monash University, Monash University, Monash University, Monash University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-08
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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