Assessment of Hydrocarbon Degradation Potential in Microbial Communities in Arctic Sea Ice.

ABSTRACT: The anthropogenic release of oil hydrocarbons into the cold marine environment is an increasing concern due to the elevated usage of sea routes and the exploration of new oil drilling sites in Arctic areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate prokaryotic community structures and the genetic potential of hydrocarbon degradation in the metagenomes of seawater, sea ice, and crude oil encapsulating the sea ice of the Norwegian fjord, Ofotfjorden. Although the results indicated substantial differences between the structure of prokaryotic communities in seawater and sea ice, the crude oil encapsulating sea ice (SIO) showed increased abundances of many genera-containing hydrocarbon-degrading organisms, including Bermanella, Colwellia, and Glaciecola. Although the metagenome

SUBMITTER: Peeb A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8879337 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature