Comparative metagenomics of hydrocarbon and methane seeps of the Gulf of Mexico.

ABSTRACT: Oil and gas percolate profusely through the sediments of the Gulf of Mexico, leading to numerous seeps at the seafloor, where complex microbial, and sometimes animal communities flourish. Sediments from three areas (two cold seeps with contrasting hydrocarbon composition and a site outside any area of active seepage) of the Gulf of Mexico were investigated and compared. Consistent with the existence of a seep microbiome, a distinct microbial community was observed in seep areas compared to sediment from outside areas of active seepage. The microbial community from sediments without any influence from hydrocarbon seepage was characterized by Planctomycetes and the metabolic potential was consistent with detrital marine snow degradation. By contrast, in seep samples with methane as the princ

SUBMITTER: Vigneron A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5700182 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature