Aerobic methanotrophic bacterial communities in sediments of Lake Constance

25 Introduction 26 Materials and Methods 28 Results 36 Discussion 47 3. Characterization of a novel methanotroph, Methylosoma difficile gen. nov., sp. nov., enriched by gradient cultivation from littoral sediment of Lake Constance 55 Summary 55 Introduction 57 Methods 58 Results and 64 Discussion 4. Comparison of aerobic methanotrophic communities in littoral and profundal sediment of Lake Constance by a molecular approach 74 Abstract 74 Introduction 75 Materials and Methods 76 Results 78 Discussion 8274 Introduction 75 Materials and Methods 76 Results 78 Discussion 82 5. Depth distribution of methanotrophic bacteria in littoral and profundal sediments of Lake Constance 85 Abstract 85 Introduction 86 Materials and Methods 88 Results 94 Discussion 10385 Introduction 86 Materials and Methods 88 Results 94 Discussion 103 6. Oxygen Relationships and Ultra-structure of a novel methanotroph 112 Abstract 112 Introduction 113 Materials and Methods 115 Results 118 Discussion 126 7. General Discussion 134