Methanotroph

Because heterotrophic bacteria rapidly outgrow methanotrophs in media supplemented with complex nutrients, most pure cultures of methanotrophs have been isolated using defined media without organic supplements.

In addition, some methanotrophs, such as the species of Methylococcus and Methylocaldum, lack distinctive fatty acid biomarkers.

Methanotrophs are fairly ubiquitous in soil, but two distinct types have been reported.