Limited gene flow among brown bear populations in far Northern Europe? Genetic analysis of the east-west border population in the Pasvik Valley.

Noninvasively collected genetic data can be used to analyse large-scale connectivity patterns among populations of large predators without disturbing them, which may contribute to unravel the species' roles in natural ecosystems and their requirements for long-term survival. The demographic history of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Northern Europe indicates several extinction and recolonization events, but little is known about present gene flow between populations of the east and west. We used 12 validated microsatellite markers to analyse 1580 hair and faecal samples collected during six consecutive years (2005-2010) in the Pasvik Valley at 70°N on the border of Norway, Finland and Russia.

Genome sequence of the Arctic methanotroph Methylobacter tundripaludum SV96.

Methylobacter tundripaludum SV96(T) (ATCC BAA-1195) is a psychrotolerant aerobic methane-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium (Methylococcales, Methylococcaceae) living in High Arctic wetland soil. The strain was isolated from soil harvested in July 1996 close to the settlement Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway (78°56'N, 11°53'E), and described as a novel species in 2006. The genome includes pmo and pxm operons encoding copper membrane monooxygenases (Cu-MMOs), genes required for nitrogen fixation, and the nirS gene implicated in dissimilatory nitrite reduction to NO but no identifiable inventory for further processing of nitrogen oxides.

Archaeal diversity and community structure in a Swedish barley field: Specificity of the EK510R/(EURY498) 16S rDNA primer.

The aim of this study was to analyze a total euryarchaeal community at DNA and RNA levels in a Swedish barley field with relation to soil depth (0-10 and 20-30 cm layers), soil fraction (bulk soil and rhizosphere) and time (August and November sample collection). Amplification of 16S rRNA gene using the archaeal universal A2F and Euryarchaea specific EK510R/(EURY498) primer pair, combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), revealed distinct differences between rDNA and rRNA DGGE profiles. The soil depth, time, or rhizosphere effects did not significantly influence Archaeal community structure.

Methylocystis rosea sp. nov., a novel methanotrophic bacterium from Arctic wetland soil, Svalbard, Norway (78 degrees N).

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, pink-pigmented bacterium, SV97T, was isolated from a wetland soil near Ny-Alesund, Svalbard Islands, Norway (78 degrees N). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain SV97T was shown to belong to the Alphaproteobacteria and was highly related to a number of non-characterized Methylocystis strains with GenBank accession nos AJ458507 and AJ458502 (100 %) and AF177299, AJ458510, AJ458467, AJ458471, AJ431384, AJ458475, AJ458484, AJ458501 and AJ458466 (99 %). The most closely related type strains were Methylocystis parvus OBBP(T) (97.

Methylobacter tundripaludum sp. nov., a methane-oxidizing bacterium from Arctic wetland soil on the Svalbard islands, Norway (78 degrees N).

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming bacterium (SV96T) was isolated from wetland soil near Ny-Alesund, Svalbard. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain SV96T was shown to belong to the Gammaproteobacteria, related to Methylobacter psychrophilus Z-0021T (99.1 %), Methylobacter luteus ATCC 49878T (97.

Methanotrophic diversity in high arctic wetlands on the islands of Svalbard (Norway)--denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of soil DNA and enrichment cultures.

The methanotrophic community in arctic soil from the islands of Svalbard, Norway (78 degrees N) was analysed by combining group-specific PCR with PCR of the highly variable V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene and then by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Selected bands were sequenced for identification. The analyses were performed with DNA extracted directly from soil and from enrichment cultures at 10 and 20 degrees C.

Isolation of methane oxidising bacteria from soil by use of a soil substrate membrane system.

Abstract A new method for isolation of methane oxidising bacteria (methanotrophs) is presented. Soil samples from a wetland area and a landfill were plated on polycarbonate membranes, which were incubated in a methane-air atmosphere using a non-sterile soil suspension as the medium. The membrane acted as a permeable growth support.