Identification of nitrogen-incorporating bacteria in petroleum-contaminated arctic soils by using [15N]DNA-based stable isotope probing and pyrosequencing.

ABSTRACT: Arctic soils are increasingly susceptible to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination, as exploration and exploitation of the Arctic increase. Bioremediation in these soils is challenging due to logistical constraints and because soil temperatures only rise above 0°C for ∼2 months each year. Nitrogen is often added to contaminated soil in situ to stimulate the existing microbial community, but little is known about how the added nutrients are used by these microorganisms. Microbes vary widely in their ability to metabolize petroleum hydrocarbons, so the question becomes: which hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms most effectively use this added nitrogen for growth? Using [(15)N]DNA-based stable isotope probing, we determined which taxonomic groups most readily incorporated nitrogen from the mon

SUBMITTER: Bell TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3131650 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature