Abstract: Methane is one of the principal greenhouse gases. The methanogenic community is an important group of microorganisms that has the capability of producing methane, which plays a significant role in the carbon cycle. Studies of the methanogenic community in both the Arctic and the Antarctic have found ubiquitous distributions in habitats of wetlands, peatlands, lakes, tundra, permafrost, and the basal ice layer of glaciers. In this paper, the composition and diversity of the methanogenic community, its relationship with environmental change (temperature, nutrients, and pH), and the main analysis techniques used in its study are summarized, and the prospects for future research in this field are discussed.

Key words: methanogenic community, diversity, Antarctic, Arctic