39 Introduction and thesis outline THESIS OUTLINE In this PhD thesis, we studied the effect of coastal ecosystem stressors on the methanotrophic biofilter. This investigation focused on sulfide and salt as the main physiological study objects. To achieve this, we combined anoxic coastal sediment from eutrophic ecosystems (Stockholm Archipelago), with stable anoxic cocultures of methane oxidizers and ANME “Ca. Methanoperedens” as environmental prototypes and/or study models. We hereby present the main research questions of this PhD thesis: 1. What controls anaerobic methane oxidation in eutrophic coastal sediments? (Chapter 2) 2. How does contrasting sulfide and nitrogen input shape methane-oxidizing communities in anoxic coastal sediments? (Chapter 3) 3. How to nitrogen deprivation and sulfide toxicity affect the stability of a methane, nitrogen, and sulfide cycling anoxic co-culture? (Chapter 4) 4. What is the physiological response of “Ca. Methanoperedens” to sulfide stress? (Chapter 5) 5. What is the physiological response of “Ca. Methanoperedens” to increased salinity? (Chapter 6) 6. Is “Ca. Methanoperedens” capable of sulfate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane in meromictic Lake Cadagno? (Chapter 7) 1
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