Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea
Abstract Microbes in cold seep water columns are essential for methane sequestration and biogeochemical cycling, yet their structures and ecological functions, particularly at the bottom water interface (BWI), are poorly understood. Here, we performed metagenomic analyses to explore the microbial bi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08471-4 |
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| author | Yanjun Liu Huan Zhang Lei Cao Lulu Fu Chao Lian Yang Guo Zhaoshan Zhong Inge Seim Minxiao Wang Chaolun Li |
| author_facet | Yanjun Liu Huan Zhang Lei Cao Lulu Fu Chao Lian Yang Guo Zhaoshan Zhong Inge Seim Minxiao Wang Chaolun Li |
| author_sort | Yanjun Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microbes in cold seep water columns are essential for methane sequestration and biogeochemical cycling, yet their structures and ecological functions, particularly at the bottom water interface (BWI), are poorly understood. Here, we performed metagenomic analyses to explore the microbial biodiversity and functions at the F-site cold seep in the South China Sea. Functional stratification revealed that photosynthetic autotrophs dominate surface zones, heterotrophs are prevalent in mesopelagic zones, and chemosynthetic bacteria are abundant at the BWI. We obtained 377 metagenome-assembled-genomes (MAGs) and constructed genome-scale metabolic models to unveil metabolic interactions facilitating the coupling of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur among microbes, particularly at the BWI. Notably, methanotrophic bacteria with diverse metabolic capabilities distributed from the BWI zone to the deep mesopelagic regions, highlighting the broader influence of methane. In conclusion, our findings reveal a high degree of heterogeneity in the composition and function of microorganisms across the F-site cold seep water column. Our study also sheds light on the ecological interactions and environmental gradients that shape these microbial communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c49ad3eb0cb4ba6b2aeae1fd07e05bb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c49ad3eb0cb4ba6b2aeae1fd07e05bb2025-08-20T04:03:02ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-07-018111310.1038/s42003-025-08471-4Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China SeaYanjun Liu0Huan Zhang1Lei Cao2Lulu Fu3Chao Lian4Yang Guo5Zhaoshan Zhong6Inge Seim7Minxiao Wang8Chaolun Li9Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesMarine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Microbes in cold seep water columns are essential for methane sequestration and biogeochemical cycling, yet their structures and ecological functions, particularly at the bottom water interface (BWI), are poorly understood. Here, we performed metagenomic analyses to explore the microbial biodiversity and functions at the F-site cold seep in the South China Sea. Functional stratification revealed that photosynthetic autotrophs dominate surface zones, heterotrophs are prevalent in mesopelagic zones, and chemosynthetic bacteria are abundant at the BWI. We obtained 377 metagenome-assembled-genomes (MAGs) and constructed genome-scale metabolic models to unveil metabolic interactions facilitating the coupling of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur among microbes, particularly at the BWI. Notably, methanotrophic bacteria with diverse metabolic capabilities distributed from the BWI zone to the deep mesopelagic regions, highlighting the broader influence of methane. In conclusion, our findings reveal a high degree of heterogeneity in the composition and function of microorganisms across the F-site cold seep water column. Our study also sheds light on the ecological interactions and environmental gradients that shape these microbial communities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08471-4 |
| spellingShingle | Yanjun Liu Huan Zhang Lei Cao Lulu Fu Chao Lian Yang Guo Zhaoshan Zhong Inge Seim Minxiao Wang Chaolun Li Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea Communications Biology |
| title | Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea |
| title_full | Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea |
| title_fullStr | Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea |
| title_short | Methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from South China Sea |
| title_sort | methane filtration and metabolic cooperation of microbial communities in cold seep water columns from south china sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08471-4 |
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