Bacteria in tree bark are hungry for methane

Abstract

While reforestation efforts are important in limiting the progression of climate change, tree stems are known to emit the potent greenhouse gas, methane. Luke Jeffrey and colleagues recently discovered that methanotrophic bacteria colonize the bark of the common lowland tree, Melaleuca quinquenervia, and significantly reduce its methane emissions. Their results expand the known pool of habitats for methanotrophic bacteria and suggest that these bark-dwelling taxa may be a future target for limiting methane emissions from trees.