Question

These bacteria grow anaerobically on cellulosic material, produce large amounts of methane along with carbon dioxide and hydrogen and are collectively called methanogens. Examples of such bacteria are:
(A) Methanobacterium
(B) Methanobrevibacter
(C) Methanococcus
(C) All of these

Answer 1

Hint: Methanogens are defined as microorganisms that can produce methane in anoxic conditions as a result of metabolic processes. They mainly belong to the domain archaea and are prokaryotic in nature.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s discuss the options and find the correct answer.
- Methanobacterium are members of the family Methanobacteriaceae and are present in non motile form. They can even survive for a long time without water. These bacteria can use formic acids to reduce inorganic methane. In this process hydrogen and carbon dioxide are also reduced.
- Methanobrevibacter belongs to the family Methanobacteriaceae. They are also prokaryotic and archaea that are anaerobic in nature. They can also produce methane by the reduction of carbon dioxide and thus form water molecules. Mainly these types of organisms mostly found in the intestine and they are responsible for the production of large amounts of greenhouse gases.
- Methanococcus is a methanogenic bacterial organism that belongs to the family Methylococcaceae. They are mainly mesophilic organisms. They can make methane by reducing carbon dioxide.
Hence option D: All of these are the correct answers.

Note: Methane is referred to as potent trace gas that is produced due to global warming. Several greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, ozone play a key role in increasing global warming as well as change in climate by the process of infrared radiation absorption in the atmosphere. Nowadays production of methane through the fermentation process is of great concern worldwide. So one must go through the detailed process of the production of methane.