Ecological aspects of microbial degradation of petroleum in the marine environment

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · CRC Crit. Rev. Microbiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3109/10408417709102813· OSTI ID:6205985

Colwell, R R ^[1]; Walker, J D

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1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park

Microbial degradation of petroleum in the marine environment occurs at different rates, depending upon nutrient concentration, temperature, salinity, and other environmental factors. Microbial degradation has been shown to be affected by the composition of the petroleum, some fractions being degraded readily and others more slowly, if at all. Microorganisms in water and sediment differ in petroleum-degradative potential. Similarly, microogranisms found in polluted environments degrade petroleum differently, both qualitatively and quantitatively, than microorganisms indigenous to unpolluted environments. Because the biodegradation of petroleum in the marine environment is influenced by a number of complex ecological factors, microbial seeding of oil spills offers promise mainly for contained spills or lagooned effluent. Effects of petroleum on marine microorganisms are only beginning to be understood. Effects of petroleum on microbial chemotaxis have been documented, and changes in populations of estuarine and marine microorganisms subjected to oil pollution have been reported. Furthermore, the response of microorganisms in oil-polluted and oil-free environments to oil spills differs significantly. Effects of petroleum on population structure, species succession, and interactions at the microbial level are not completely understood. The available data indicate that changes do occur, with the significance of these changes to the ecology of the world's oceans yet to be determined.

• OSTI ID: 6205985
• Journal Information: CRC Crit. Rev. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: CRC Crit. Rev. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN CRVMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020800 -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550700 -- Microbiology
560302 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENT
ESTUARIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
NUTRIENTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POPULATIONS
SALINITY
SEAS
SEAWATER
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL