18S rDNA sequences from microeukaryotes reveal oil indicators in mangrove sediment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Microeukaryotes are an effective indicator of the presence of environmental contaminants. However, the characterisation of these organisms by conventional tools is often inefficient, and recent molecular studies have revealed a great diversity of microeukaryotes. The full extent of this diversity is unknown, and therefore, the distribution, ecological role and responses to anthropogenic effects of microeukaryotes are rather obscure. The majority of oil from oceanic oil spills (e.g., the May 2010 accident in the Gulf of Mexico) converges on coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, which are threatened with worldwide disappearance, highlighting the need for efficient tools to indicate the presence of oil in these environments. However, no studies have used molecular methods t

SUBMITTER: Santos HF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2928742 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature