title: Diversity of bacteria and fungi associated with tarballs: Recent developments and future prospects.
abstract: Tarballs are formed by weathering of crude oil in marine environment. They are transported from open ocean to the shores by sea currents and waves. Tarball pollution is a major concern to global marine ecosystem. Microbes such as bacteria and fungi are known to be associated with tarballs. They presumably play an important role in tarball degradation and some are potential human and animal pathogens. This paper highlights the recent studies on tarball-associated bacteria and fungi. Future perspectives on diversity, ecology and possible applications of tarball-associated microbes in bioremediation of beached tarballs have been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India.
authors.forename: Varsha Laxman
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.affiliation: Physical Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suneel
authors.affiliation: Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India; CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography Regional Centre, 176, Lawson's Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam 530017, Andhra Pradesh, India. Electronic address: belleshenoy@nio.org.
authors.forename: Belle Damodara
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Shenoy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D017753:Ecosystem; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism; D059392:Petroleum Pollution
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum
keywords: Bacteria; Bioremediation; Crude oil; Fungi; Hydrocarbons; Marine pollution; Taxonomy