Hello!
I'm working on a project which involves methanotrophs. I'd like to know if they are chemolithotrophs or chemoorganotrophs. I thought they were chemoorganotrophs(becouse they "eat" methane), but in some places they were listed as chemolithotrophs, so I really don't know what to think.

mogi on Nov 11 2004, 12:36 AM said:

Methane is a gas of organic origin - it arises from the decay of living matter. Methanotrophs utilise methane in conjunction with oxygen (for aerobic methanotrophs) or carbon dioxide (for anaerobic methanotrophs) to form formaldehyde which is a priniciple component of their metabolism - that being the case i would say that the methanotrophs are chemoorganotrophs not chemolithotrophs who utilise inorganic compounds