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Polyphasic approach for assessing changes in an autochthonous marine bacterial community in the presence of Prestige fuel oil and its biodegradation potential

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Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted to identify key hydrocarbon degraders from a marine oil spill sample (Prestige fuel oil), to ascertain their role in the degradation of different hydrocarbons, and to assess their biodegradation potential for this complex heavy oil. After a 17-month enrichment in weathered fuel, the bacterial community, initially consisting mainly of Methylophaga species, underwent a major selective pressure in favor of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic microorganisms, such as Alcanivorax and Marinobacter spp. and other hydrocarbon-degrading taxa (Thalassospira and Alcaligenes), and showed strong biodegradation potential. This ranged from >99% for all low- and medium-molecular-weight alkanes (C15–C27) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (C0- to C2- naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene, and carbazole), to 75–98% for higher molecular-weight alkanes (C28–C40) and to 55–80% for the C3 derivatives of tricyclic and tetracyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (e.g., C3-chrysenes), in 60 days. The numbers of total heterotrophs and of n-alkane-, aliphatic-, and PAH degraders, as well as the structures of these populations, were monitored throughout the biodegradation process. The salinity of the counting medium affects the counts of PAH degraders, while the carbon source (n-hexadecane vs. a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons) is a key factor when counting aliphatic degraders. These limitations notwithstanding, some bacterial genera associated with hydrocarbon degradation (mainly belonging to α- and γ-Proteobacteria, including the hydrocarbonoclastic Alcanivorax and Marinobacter) were identified. We conclude that Thalassospira and Roseobacter contribute to the degradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons, whereas Mesorhizobium and Muricauda participate in the degradation of PAHs.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (VEM2003-20068-C05 and CTM2007-61097/TECHNO). N.J. is grateful for a PhD fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Núria Jiménez, Cèlia Guiu-Aragonés & Anna M. Solanas

  2. GIRO Technological Centre, Rambla Pompeu Fabra, 1, 08100, Mollet del Vallès, Spain

    Marc Viñas

  3. Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona Salgado, 18–26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Núria Jiménez, Josep M. Bayona & Joan Albaigés

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  1. Núria Jiménez
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  2. Marc Viñas
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  3. Cèlia Guiu-Aragonés
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  5. Joan Albaigés
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Correspondence to Anna M. Solanas.

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Jiménez, N., Viñas, M., Guiu-Aragonés, C. et al. Polyphasic approach for assessing changes in an autochthonous marine bacterial community in the presence of Prestige fuel oil and its biodegradation potential. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 91, 823–834 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3321-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3321-4

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