Microbial community assessment in oil-impacted salt marsh sediment microcosms by traditional and nucleic acid-based indices.
The effect of oil amendment in salt marsh sediment microcosms was examined by most probable number (MPN), DNA-hybridization with domain-specific oligonucleotide probes and whole community 16S rDNA-hybridizations. Gas chromatography (GC/MS) analysis of oil residues in sediments from microcosms after 3 months of operation showed that the quantity of petroleum hydrocarbons was lower in microcosms amended with oil compared to microcosms amended with oil+plant detritus. Bacterial numbers (total-MPN) increased in all experimental microcosms (amended with plant detritus, oil, and oil+plant detritus). In comparison to the intact sediment, the proportions of oil-degrading bacteria increased >100-fold in the oil amended microcosm and >10-fold in the plant detritus and the oil+plant detritus amended microcosms. DNA-hybridizations with Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya oligonucleotide probes indicated few changes in the petroleum contaminated sediment community profile. In contrast, rDNA-hybridizations indicated that the bacterial community profile of the oil-impacted sediments, after 1 month of exposure, was significantly different from the control sediment.
Bachoon
D S
DS
Department of Marine Sciences, School of Marine Programs, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, GA, USA. dbachoon@arches.uga.edu
Hodson
R E
RE
Araujo
R
R
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005648:Fuel Oils; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012989:Soil Pollutants