Biotransformation of petroleum hydrocarbons and microbial communities in seawater with oil dispersions and copepod feces.
To determine biotransformation of components in crude oil dispersions in the presence of feces from marine copepods, dispersed oil was incubated alone, with the addition of clean or oil-containing feces. We hypothesized that the feces would contribute with nutrients to bacteria, and higher concentrations of oil-degrading bacteria, respectively. Presence of clean feces resulted in higher degradation of aromatic oil compounds, but lower degradation of n-alkanes. Presence of oil-containing feces resulted in higher degradation of n-alkanes. The effect of clean feces on aromatic compounds are suggested to be due to higher concentrations of nutrients in the seawater where aromatic degradation takes place, while the lower degradation of n-alkanes are suggested to be due to a preference by bacteria for feces over these compounds. Large aggregates were observed in oil dispersions with clean feces, which may cause sedimentation of un-weathered lipophilic oil compounds towards the seafloor if formed during oil spills.
Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: ingvild.f.stordal@ntnu.no.
Ingvild Fladvad
IF
Størdal
Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Anders Johny
AJ
Olsen
Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Bjørn Munro
BM
Jenssen
SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Environmental Technology, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway.
Roman
R
Netzer
BioTrix, NO-7022 Trondheim, Norway.
Dag
D
Altin
SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Environmental Technology, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway.
Odd Gunnar
OG
Brakstad
D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001711:Biotransformation; D033342:Copepoda; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D009659:North Sea; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D000473:Alkanes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Biodegradation; Calanus finmarchicus; Copepod feces; Marine snow; Oil dispersions; Oil-degrading bacteria