CHARACTERIZATION OF A MARINE METHANOGENIC CONSORTIUM.

A consortium of bacteria that degraded kelp to methane was obtained from a marine canyon which contained large deposits of kelp and sea grass. Enrichment cultures were initiated in an artificial seawater medium prepared without sulfate and containing kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) as the sole substrate. Intermediates formed during degradation included hydrogen, formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, succinate and ethanol. Enrichment cultures were begun for methanogenic bacteria with the substrates hydrogen, formate and acetate; and for acetogenic hydrogen-producers with the substrates propionate and butyrate. Results show that a complete methanogenic consortium consisting of a close association of fermentatives, acetogenic hydrogen-producers and a diversity of methane-producers was obtained from this specific marine habitat.