Abstract
AbstractPermanently cold deep-sea sediments (2500-3500 m water depth) with or without indications of thermogenic hydrocarbon seepage were exposed to naphtha to examine the presence and potential of aerobic hydrocarbon-degrading microbial populations. Monitoring these microcosms for volatile hydrocarbons by GC-MS revealed sediments withoutin situhydrocarbons responded more rapidly to naphtha amendment than hydrocarbon seep sediments overall, but seep sediments removed BTEX compounds more readily. Naphtha-driven aerobic respiration was more evident in surface sediment (0-20 cmbsf) than deeper anoxic layers (>130 cmbsf) that responded less rapidly. In all cases, enrichment of Gammaproteobacteria included lineages ofOleispira,Pseudomonas, andAlteromonasknown to be associated with marine oil spills. On the other hand, taxa known to be prevalentin situand diagnostic for thermogenic hydrocarbon seepage in deep sea sediment did not respond to naphtha amendment. This suggests a limited role for seep-associated populations in the context of oil spill biodegradation.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory