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Long-term changes of bacterial abundance, hydrocarbon concentration and toxicity during a biostimulation treatment of oil-amended organic and mineral sub-Antarctic soils

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Abstract

A field study was initiated in December 2000 in two selected sub-Antarctic soils (Kerguelen Archipelago) with the objective of determining the long-term effects of a fertilizer addition on the degradation rate and the toxicity of oil residues under severe sub-Antarctic conditions. Two soils were selected. The first site was an organic soil supporting an abundant vegetal cover while the second one was a mineral soil, free from vegetation. Both soils were located in the vicinity of the permanent station of Port-aux-Français (69°42′E−49°19′S). Two series of five experimental plots (0.75 × 0.7 5 m) were settled firmly into each of the studied soils. Each plot received 500 ml of diesel fuel or Arabian light crude oil and some of them were treated with a bioremediation agent: the slow release fertilizer Inipol EAP-22® (Elf Atochem). All plots were sampled on a regular basis over a 4-year period. The microbial response was improved by bioremediation treatments but fertilizer addition had a greater impact on the mineral soil when compared to the organic one. The rate of degradation was significantly improved by bioremediation treatments. However, even after 4 years, the toxicity of oiled soils as determined by Microtox solid phase tests showed a persistent response in spite of an apparent significant degradation of alkanes and aromatics. Despite the very small amount of contaminant used in this experiment, 4 years of bioremediation was not sufficient to obtain a complete return to pristine conditions

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the French Polar Institute “IPEV”, the Research Chair of Canada in marine ecotoxicology (EP), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the European Project COMMODE (EVK3–CT2002–00077).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Université P. et M. Curie UMR-CNRS 7621, Laboratoire Arago, 66650, Banyuls sur mer, France

    D. Delille

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK

    F. Coulon

  3. Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski (ISMER), Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, QC, Canada, G5L 3A1

    E. Pelletier

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  1. D. Delille
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  2. F. Coulon
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Correspondence to D. Delille.

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Delille, D., Coulon, F. & Pelletier, E. Long-term changes of bacterial abundance, hydrocarbon concentration and toxicity during a biostimulation treatment of oil-amended organic and mineral sub-Antarctic soils. Polar Biol 30, 925–933 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0252-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0252-8

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