TABLE 1.

Growth characteristics of the methanotrophic-heterotrophic community and its methanotrophic strain

Initial headspace concn (%)		Growth rate/daya
		Community		Methanotroph
CH4	O2	20°C	30°C	20°C	30°C
4.5	19.0	0.35 ± 0.03 (1)	0.42 ± 0.03 (1)	0.27 ± 0.05 (6)	0.32 ± 0.06 (3)
8.7	18.5	0.38 ± 0.02 (1)	0.40 ± 0.04 (0.5)	0.27 ± 0.06 (5)	0.30 ± 0.07 (4)
19.4	15.5	0.36 ± 0.04 (1)	0.44 ± 0.02 (0.5)	0.30 ± 0.05 (3)	0.34 ± 0.07 (2)
20.2b	14.8	0.45 ± 0.03 (0.5)	0.55 ± 0.03 (0.5)	0.38 ± 0.06 (3)	0.45 ± 0.06 (1)

^aAverage specific growth rate (mean ± standard deviation of three replicates) during the log phase. Data in parentheses indicate lag period in days. 

^bAfter the first injection, CH₄ (20 ml) and O₂ (10 ml) were repeatedly injected to maintain low O₂ (3 to 5%) and excess CH₄ (10 to 15%) concentrations.