title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in deep sea sediments: Microbe-pollutant interactions in a remote environment.
abstract: Recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released into seawater end up in the deep sea sediments (DSSs). However, their fate here is often oversimplified by theoretical models. Biodegradation of PAHs in DSSs, is assumed to be similar to biodegradation in surface habitats, despite high hydrostatic pressures and low temperatures that should significantly limit PAH biodegradation. Bacteria residing in the DSSs (related mainly to α- and γ-Proteobacteria) have been shown to or predicted to possess distinct genes, enzymes and metabolic pathways, indicating an adaptation of these bacterial communities to the psychro-peizophilic conditions of the DSSs. This work summarizes some of the most recent research on DSS hydrocarbonoclastic populations and mechanisms of PAH degradation and discusses the challenges posed by future high CO2 and UV climate scenarios on biodegradation of PAHs in DSSs.
authors.affiliation: CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: antonio.louvado@ua.pt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Louvado
authors.affiliation: CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: gomesncm@ua.pt.
authors.forename: N C M
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: QOPNA, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: msimoes@ua.pt.
authors.forename: M M Q
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: aalmeida@ua.pt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: cleary@ua.pt.
authors.forename: D F R
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: acunha@ua.pt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D017753:Ecosystem; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Abyssal sediments; Biodegradation; Climate change; High hydrostatic pressure; Oil pollution; PAHs