methanotrophic ecosystems

Methanotrophic ecosystems are natural environments where specialized microbes, called methanotrophs, consume methane—a potent greenhouse gas—transforming it into carbon dioxide and other compounds. These microbes thrive in places like wetlands, soils, and areas around pipelines or landfills. By using methane as an energy source, they help reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, playing a vital role in climate regulation. These ecosystems are important for maintaining ecological balance and can be harnessed for biotechnological applications like bioremediation and methane mitigation.