Understanding the effect of conventional
and alternative fuels
on the marine bacterial community is crucial, as it pertains to the
impact, biodegradation, and final fate of these fuels in the environment.
Metagenomics analysis demonstrated that conventional and alternative
fuels promoted the growth of Proteobacteria. Marinobacter and Desulfovibrio were predominant in seawater
exposed to conventional jet propellant-5 (JP-5), while Hyphomonas and Rhodovulum were most abundant in seawater with
hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel (HRJ) and conventional F-76 diesel,
respectively. The phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Lentisphaerae were underrepresented in samples
with fuel, and these phyla were largely comprised of unclassified
bacteria. Culture-dependent tests isolated several of the same genera
detected in high abundance by metagenomics DNA sequencing, including Marinobacter, Rhodovulum, and Halobacillus. Growth studies in fuel and gas chromatography analysis demonstrated
that isolates grew in fuel and metabolized hydrocarbons efficiently.
The hydrocarbon degradation profile of each bacterium was conserved
from conventional to alternative fuels. The study indicated that bacteria
must out-compete others to get established and proliferate. Competition
between hydrocarbon degraders was an important factor affecting the
bioremediation process. This study provides insights into the growth
characteristics of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and the effects
of fuel on marine bacterial communities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.