Impacts of Environmental Factors on the Dynamics of Methanogens and Methanotrophs in Coastal Wetlands of South Texas

Author

Shahida Ferdousee, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences

First Advisor

Jongsun Kim

Second Advisor

Myung Hwangbo

Third Advisor

Diego Figueroa

Abstract

Coastal wetlands are the largest source of biotic methane, which is regulated by microorganisms such as methanogens and methanotrophs. Due to climate change, South Texas has recently been experiencing extreme weather events which might affect methane cycling along with anthropogenic activities. However, understanding the coastal wetlands of South Texas and their methane cycling is still understudied. Therefore, this study established methods to investigate these microorganisms in coastal wetlands of South Texas using the detection of biomarker genes related to methane cycling. Results showed an increased abundance of pmoA1, along with the notable presence of pmoA2, mmoX, and mcrA after heavy rainfall. Results highlighted precipitation significantly influenced methanotrophic communities with a distinct seasonal variation across all functional gene markers and the impact of Hurricane Beryl of 2024 on microbial community in oxbow lake. This study will provide an understanding of how environmental factors regulate methane-cycling microbes in South Texas coastal ecosystems.

Comments

Copyright 2025 Shahida Ferdousee. https://proquest.com/docview/3240631212

Recommended Citation

Ferdousee, S. (2025). Impacts of Environmental Factors on the Dynamics of Methanogens and Methanotrophs in Coastal Wetlands of South Texas [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1728