Methanotrophs in an Oil Sands End-Pit Lake and their Potential Co-oxidation of Naphthenic Acids

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dc.contributor.advisorDunfield, Peter
dc.contributor.advisorGieg, Lisa
dc.contributor.authorNwosu, Felix Chinweije
dc.contributor.committeememberChua, Gordon
dc.contributor.committeememberTurner, Ray
dc.date2023-11
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-17T16:04:15Z
dc.date.available2023-07-17T16:04:15Z
dc.date.issued2023-06
dc.description.abstractMethanotrophs possess the highly promiscuous enzyme, methane monooxygenase (MMO) which has been characterized to co-oxidize many substrates in conjunction with methane. As such, methanotrophs are hereby explored in the remediation of environmental pollutants such as naphthenic acids (NAs) in Base Mine Lake (BML), the first oil sands end-pit lake. BML is known to harbor an active methanotrophic population and can be explored for the co-oxidation or co-metabolism of compounds of concern in BML like NAs. We report on the dynamics of the methanotrophic population in the BML water column and sediment interface over time was explored using both 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and pmoA gene (encoding particulate MMO) abundance by qPCR quantification. The results showed that methanotrophs can be up to 2.7 × 104 cells mL-1 of water by qPCR and are delineated by season, with Methylobacter dominating the water columns in winter and Methylococcus being the most abundant in the summer seasons based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Conversely, Methylococcus was most abundant in winter BML ice cover compared to Methylobacter spp. in this preliminary analysis of the methanotroph community associated with the ice cover in winter. In a mixed culture of methanotrophs enriched from BML water, we demonstrated that a surrogate NA, cyclohexane carboxylic acid (CHCA), could be biodegraded in a methane-dependent manner to non-detectable levels. Similarly, a tailings ponds methanotroph isolate, Methylicorpusculum oleharenae, was also able to degrade CHCA, strongly suggesting that MMO is implicated in the hydroxylation of NA. Overall, these findings may suggest that methanotrophs can play a role in the bioremediation and reclamation of organic compounds found in BML.
dc.identifier.citationNwosu, F. C. (2023). Methanotrophs in an oil sands end-pit lake and their potential co-oxidation of naphthenic acids (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/116734
dc.identifier.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41576
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisher.facultyScienceen
dc.rightsUnless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en
dc.subjectBioremediation
dc.subject.classificationMicrobiology
dc.titleMethanotrophs in an Oil Sands End-Pit Lake and their Potential Co-oxidation of Naphthenic Acids
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudentI require a thesis withhold – I need to delay the release of my thesis due to a patent application, and other reasons outlined in the link above. I have/will need to submit a thesis withhold application.
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