Coastal wetlands found to be powerful methane sinks, reducing global emissions.
Coastal wetlands can actually help reduce methane in the atmosphere, not just emit it. Scientists in China studied how different microbes in wetland sediments can consume methane using various electron acceptors. They found that a type of bacteria called NC10 plays a significant role in this process, with some bacteria consuming methane in the sediments while others use oxygen from the air. This discovery sheds light on how coastal areas can help balance the global methane cycle.