Fish acting as sinks of methane-derived carbon in Neotropical floodplains.

Floodplains function as global hotspots for the natural production of methane. Some of this methane can be oxidized by methanotrophic bacteria and assimilated into their biomass before reaching the atmosphere. Consequently, aquatic invertebrates that feed on methanotrophic bacteria may transfer methane-derived carbon to higher trophic levels in the aquatic food chain.

The riverine bioreactor: An integrative perspective on biological decomposition of organic matter across riverine habitats.

Riverine ecosystems can be conceptualized as 'bioreactors' (the riverine bioreactor) which retain and decompose a wide range of organic substrates. The metabolic performance of the riverine bioreactor is linked to their community structure, the efficiency of energy transfer along food chains, and complex interactions among biotic and abiotic environmental factors. However, our understanding of the mechanistic functioning and capacity of the riverine bioreactor remains limited.