Metagenomic survey reveals hydrocarbon biodegradation potential of Canadian high Arctic beaches.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Decreasing sea ice coverage across the Arctic Ocean due to climate change is expected to increase shipping activity through previously inaccessible shipping routes, including the Northwest Passage (NWP). Changing weather conditions typically encountered in the Arctic will still pose a risk for ships which could lead to an accident and the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons onto NWP shorelines. We performed a metagenomic survey to characterize the microbial communities of various NWP shorelines and to determine whether there is a metabolic potential for hydrocarbon degradation in these microbiomes.

Results

We observed taxonomic and functional gene evidence supporting the potential of NWP beach microbes to degrade various types of hydrocarbons. The metagenomic and

SUBMITTER: Gongora E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11411865 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature