Methane oxidation and phospholipid fatty acid composition in a podzolic soil profile

We compared methane oxidation activity in laboratory incubations of samples from a podzolic soil profile to the microbial community structure of the s oil, determined as the content and composition of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). The abundances of two fatty acids considered unique for methanotro phs (and the abundances of all other quantified PLFAs) were very weakly rel ated to methane oxidation. This is in contrast to the situation in environm ents with much higher methane supply, indicating that these fatty acids sho uld not be used as biomarkers for methanotrophs in upland forest soils. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.