title: Assessing microbial carbon sources and potential PAH degradation using natural abundance 14C analysis.
abstract: Natural abundance (14)C analysis was applied to PLFAs collected from an industrial site in southern Ontario in order to assess microbial carbon sources and potential PAH biodegradation in soils. Δ(14)C of microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) at the site ranged from +54‰ to -697‰. Comparison of these values to surrounding carbon sources found that microbial carbon sources were derived primarily from vegetation and/or natural organic matter present in the soils rather than PAHs. This study highlights that microbes are able to utilize almost all available pools of organic matter including older pools which are thought to contain recalcitrant compounds. Furthermore, it shows that even with the presence of an active microbial community, there may be little biodegradation of PAHs. This study illustrates challenges in assessing microbial activity in the environment and the advantage of using natural abundance (14)C analysis as a tool to elucidate microbial carbon sources.
authors: School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors: Nagissa
authors: N
authors: Mahmoudi
authors: Roberta R
authors: RR
authors: Fulthorpe
authors: Leanne
authors: L
authors: Burns
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Mancini
authors: Greg F
authors: GF
authors: Slater
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009864:Ontario; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil