Methanogenesis in the hypersaline Solar Lake (Sinai)

Abstract

Enrichment studies on microbial mat sediments (potential stromatolites) from the hypersaline Solar Lake (Sinai) indicated high numbers of methanogenic bacteria (up to 105 ml-1 sediment) in spite of the high sulfate reduction rate, sulfate concentration and salinity. Among H2/CO2, acetate and monomethylamine, the methylated amine was the preferred substrate. The predominant species enriched was a Methanosarcina sp. The findings indicate that methanogenic bacteria play an important role in hypersaline sulfate-enriched anoxic sediments and stromatolithic microbial mats. © 1984.