Bacteria-Oil Microaggregates Are an Important Mechanism for Hydrocarbon Degradation in the Marine Water Column.

ABSTRACT: Following oil spills in aquatic environments, oil-associated flocculants observed within contaminated waters ultimately lead to the sedimentation of oil as marine oil snow (MOS). To better understand the role of aggregates in hydrocarbon degradation and transport, we experimentally produced a MOS sedimentation event using Gulf of Mexico coastal waters amended with oil or oil plus dispersant. In addition to the formation of MOS, smaller micrometer-scale (10- to 150-μm) microbial aggregates were observed. Visual inspection of these microaggregates revealed that they were most abundant in the oil-amended treatments and frequently associated with oil droplets, linking their formation to the presence of oil. The peak abundance of the microaggregates coincided with the maximum rates of biologica

SUBMITTER: Achberger AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8547462 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature