Cold adapted archaea feeding on ethane, a natural gas hydrocarbon. The Archaea named Argoarchaeum ethanivorans (red) grow best at 12oC and partner up with sulfate-reducing bacteria (green) to complete the oxidation process. The culture was obtained from Golf of Mexico sediments where gas is seeping from deep seated reservoirs. These were the first microbes shown to degrade ethane in the absence of oxygen: see here (Chen et al., 2019) the original publication.
Photo: Niculina Musat
Thermophilic Archaea feeding on natural gas hydrocarbons at 50oC. The Archaea (red) form tightly packed aggregates with sulfate reducing bacteria (green) which help them complete the oxidation process. Other associated microbes are shown in blue. The culture was obtained from hot seeps in the Guaymas Basin. Photo: Niculina Musat.
Our Sampling
The Arctic
Sampling Deep sea sediments in the Arctic. Photos Florin Musat
Terrestrial Mud Volcanos. These geological formations located in Central Romania spew out natural gas, mostly methane, along with saline water and mud. Photos: Florin Musat
