New methane-munching bacteria discovered
New methane-munching bacteria discovered
Methane plumes(vertical shapes) at the undersea Wairarapa methane seep.
An unusual group of methanotrophs – bacteria which digest methane – has been identified by NIWA scientists investigating the fate of undersea methane seeps in the Cook Strait-Wairarapa region.
The bacteria were collected in water samples from the methane seep plumes, at a depth of around 1000 m.