title: Effects of spilled oil on microbial communities in a tidal flat.
abstract: Effects of spilled oil on microbial communities in tidal flats were examined by use of a simulator for a tidal flat ecosystem. The simulator is composed of a wave generator, a tide control device, and a tidal flat. Sediment for the tidal flat was obtained at a natural tidal flat in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. After stabilizing the benthic organisms, fuel oil C was added to the surface of the flat at 1 lm(-2). Although the total number of micro-organisms remained at 1.5-3.5 x 10(9) cells g(-1) dry sediment irrespective of the addition of oil, bacterial communities which were analyzed based on the 16S rDNA showed clear changes after the addition of fuel oil C and after a subsequent recovery period. Bacterial colonies were randomly isolated from the oil-supplemented sediment during the experiments, and the isolates were examined for susceptibility to hydrocarbons in order to screen the oil-susceptible bacteria. The proportion of oil-susceptible bacteria in the isolates decreased with the addition of the oil. Oil-susceptible bacteria showed an inability to assimilate petroleum compounds as well as an inhibition of growth. The possibility of using oil-susceptible bacteria as an indicator of bioremediation in tidal flats was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, 183-8509, Tokyo, Japan. katayama@cc.tuat.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oura
authors.forename: Mihoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orita
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Mitsumasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000506:poisoning*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010578:Petroleum; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S