Emission of Methane by Eudrilus eugeniae and Other Earthworms from Brazil

Earthworms emit denitrification-derived nitrous oxide and fermentation-derived molecular hydrogen. The present study demonstrated that the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae, obtained in Brazil, emitted methane. Other worms displayed a lesser or no capacity to emit methane. Gene and transcript analyses of mcrA (encoding the alpha subunit of methyl-CoM reductase) in gut contents of E. eugeniae suggested that Methanosarcinaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, and Methanomicrobiaceae might be associated with this emission.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in Germany [DR310/4-1, DR310/7-1]

University of Bayreuth

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) in Brazil

Embrapa Florestas

University of Sao Paulo