The ecology of methane in streams and rivers: patterns, controls, and global significance

Abstract Streams and rivers can substantially modify organic carbon ( OC ) inputs from terrestrial landscapes, and much of this processing is the result of microbial respiration. While carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) is the major end‐product of ecosystem respiration, methane ( CH 4 ) is also present in many fluvial environments even though methanogenesis typically requires anoxic conditions that may be scarce in these systems. Given recent recognition of the pervasiveness of this greenhouse gas in streams and rivers, we synthesized existing research and data to identify patterns and drivers of CH 4, knowledge gaps, and research opportunities. This included examining the history of lotic CH 4 research, creating a…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: DEB‐0822700