Bioremediation Potential of Natural Microbiocenosis under Conditions of Chronic Oil Contamination

Abstract

It was shown that under conditions of chronic exposure to oil fields, the bioremediation potential of autochthonous microbiocenosis, which is formed as a result of seral processes after the release of petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, plays an important role. As a result of the study, it was found that in the bottom deposits of the Kamenka River (Kungursky district of the Perm Territory, Russia), located on the territory of the Kokuyskoye oil and gas field, bacteriocenosis decomposing oil hydrocarbons were formed. Communities include the main ecological and trophic groups of bacteria: heterotrophs – (1.4–2.4)×107 CFU/g of bottom deposits, crude oil degraders – 5.0×104–2.7×107 CFU/g of bottom deposits, halophiles – 1.0×106–1.3×107 CFU/g of bottom deposits. It was showed that bacteriocenosis decompose alkanes and partially transform cyclanes and arenas, the main components of oil contamination in the study area. Thus, the possibility of restoration of the territory of chronic oil pollution as a result of realization of bioremediation potential of bacterial natural community was confirmed.