Microbial gene functions enriched in the Deepwater Horizon deep-sea oil plume
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the deepest and largest offshore spill in U.S. history and its impacts on marine ecosystems are largely unknown. Here, we showed that the microbial community functional composition and structure were dramatically altered in a deep-sea oil plume resulting from the spill. A variety of metabolic genes involved in both aerobic and anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation were highly enriched in the plume compared to outside the plume, indicating a great potential for intrinsic bioremediation or natural attenuation in the deep-sea. Various other microbial functional genes relevant to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and iron cycling, metal resistance, and bacteriophage replication were also enriched in the plume. Together, these results suggest that the indigenous marine microbial communities could play a significant role in biodegradation of oil spills in deep-sea environments.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Earth Sciences Division
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 1051040
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-5055E; TRN: US201218%%1192
- Journal Information:
- ISME Journal, Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 2011
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Metagenomics reveals sediment microbial community response to Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Rapid Response of Eastern Mediterranean Deep Sea Microbial Communities to Oil