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Microbial Diversity during Biodegradation of Crude Oil in Seawater from the North Sea

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Abstract

Microbial communities were characterized during biodegradation of immobilized oil in seawater from the Statfjord field and the German Bight in the North Sea. Seawater samples were collected at different distances from pollution sources at the two locations. A Statfjord oil was immobilized on hydrophobic synthetic Fluortex fabrics and submerged in closed flasks (no headspace) with natural or sterile seawater and incubated at 13°C for 56 days. Biodegradation of immobilized n-alkanes was measured by gas chromatography, total microbes were enumerated by epifluorescence microscopy, and culturable heterotrophic and oil-degrading microorganisms were quantified by most probable number (MPN) analysis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA in water samples was conducted during biodegradation experiments. The amplified 16S rDNA fragments were characterized by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and by sequence analysis of cloned inserts. Biodegradation rates of alkanes in seawater collected at different distances from the pollution sources did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Concentrations of oil-degrading microorganisms showed a temporary peak after 7 days of degradation, with a subsequent decline later in the period. DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that community diversity decreased during the first 2–3 weeks of biodegradation, with the emergence of a few dominant bands. Cloning, restriction analysis, and sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA fragments revealed >30 different phylotypes. Abundant types during biodegradation belonged to the α-Proteobacteria, in waters from both Statfjord and the German Bight. Cloning and sequencing studies indicated that the most abundant bacteria during biodegradation belonged to the family Rhodobacteraceae, with the closest relationship to the genera Sulfitobacter and Roseobacter.

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Acknowledgments

Sampling of seawater and seawater filtration were made possible thanks to the BecPelag program (http://www.niva.no/pelagic/web). We thank Dr. Ketill Hylland at the Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway, Dr. Thomas Lang at the Federal Research Centre for Fisheries, Cuxhaven, Germany, and the crew onboard RV Walther Herwig III for organizing the cruises, sampling the seawater, seawater filtration, and shipment of samples to our laboratory. We are also grateful for financial support from the Norwegian Research Council and the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (NOIA) for the cruises.

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  1. Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, SINTEF Applied Chemistry, N-7010, Trondheim, Norway

    O.G. Brakstad & A.G.G. Lødeng

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  1. O.G. Brakstad
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  2. A.G.G. Lødeng
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Correspondence to O.G. Brakstad.

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Brakstad, O., Lødeng, A. Microbial Diversity during Biodegradation of Crude Oil in Seawater from the North Sea. Microb Ecol 49, 94–103 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-003-0225-6

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