According to an English-language TV program originating in Germany, researchers at the Max Planck Institute have demonstrated that plants emit methane into the atmosphere. The report implied that more research is needed to determine whether or not this "greenhouse gas" is increasing because of increased levels of atmospheric CO2.
First, does anyone know whether or not my interpretation is correct, in error, or incomplete? Second, I noted that there was no mention of the influence of methanotrophic bacteria, leaving the impression, with me at least, that methanotrophic activitiy was not part of their calculations. Is anyone familiar enough with this research to clarify this? Did the TV producers simply leave this aspect of the research out of the report or do the researchers consider it irrelevant or insignificant? WT
