Open AccessComposition and dynamics of biostimulated indigenous oil‐degrading microbial consortia from the I rish, N orth and M editerranean S eas: a mesocosm study
Author(s) -
Gertler Christoph,
Näther Daniela J.,
Cappello Simone,
Gerdts Gunnar,
Quilliam Richard S.,
Yakimov Michail M.,
Golyshin Peter N.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01377.x
Subject(s) - biology , mesocosm , microbial population biology , population , ecology , microbial ecology , operational taxonomic unit , mediterranean sea , mediterranean climate , 16s ribosomal rna , nutrient , bacteria , genetics , demography , sociology
Diversity of indigenous microbial consortia and natural occurrence of obligate hydrocarbon‐degrading bacteria ( OHCB ) are of central importance for efficient bioremediation techniques. To investigate the microbial population dynamics and composition of oil‐degrading consortia, we have established a series of identical oil‐degrading mesocosms at three different locations, B angor ( M enai S traits, I rish S ea), H elgoland ( N orth S ea) and M essina ( M essina S traits, M editerranean S ea). Changes in microbial community composition in response to oil spiking, nutrient amendment and filtration were assessed by ARISA and DGGE fingerprinting and 16 S r RNA gene library analysis. Bacterial and protozoan cell numbers were quantified by fluorescence microscopy. Very similar microbial population sizes and dynamics, together with key oil‐degrading microorganisms, for example, A lcanivorax borkumensis , were observed at all three sites; however, the composition of microbial communities was largely site specific and included variability in relative abundance of OHCB . Reduction in protozoan grazing had little effect on prokaryotic cell numbers but did lead to a decrease in the percentage of A . borkumensis 16 S r RNA genes detected in clone libraries. These results underline the complexity of marine oil‐degrading microbial communities and cast further doubt on the feasibility of bioaugmentation practices for use in a broad range of geographical locations.