Internal oxygen dynamics in rhizomes of Phragmites australis and presence of methanotrophs in root biofilms in a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment

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Abstract
Oxygen partial pressures (O2pp) inside rhizomes of Phragmites australis were measured to monitor diurnal dynamics. Root-associated biofilms were characterised regarding methane-oxidising bacteria (MOB) by immuno labelling. Runs of O2pp showed distinct diurnal patterns repeating day-to-day. Soon after sunrise O2pp increased steeply to around 185 hPa, remained on this level over mid-day and decreased exponentially over night to about 80 hPa. Root surfaces were densely packed with bacteria of which 34–37% accounted for potential MOB. This emphasises the importance of the oxic rhizosphere in the degradation of organic matter and methane oxidation and diurnal fluctuation of O2pp may implicate for variation of biogeochemical processes involved in wastewater treatment.

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