Effects of diesel and lubricant oils on Antarctic benthic microbial communities over five years

Powell, Stephen G.; Stark, Jonathan S.; Snape, Ian; Woolfenden, Ellen; Bowman, John P.; Riddle, Martin J.

doi:10.3354/ame01441

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…Importantly, oil spillage due to transport, storage and utilization of fossil fuels has become a serious and persistent threat (Aislabie et al, 2004 ; Hughes, 2014 ). The hydrocarbon contamination in Antarctica has profound effects that have been shown to reshape the structure of microbial communities as well as affecting the abundance of small invertebrate organisms (Saul et al, 2005 ; Thompson et al, 2007 ; Powell et al, 2010 ). Oil contamination can generate detrimental changes in soil properties, including modifications in maximum surface temperature, pH, and carbon and nitrogen levels (Aislabie et al, 2004 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation and Characterization of Phenanthrene Degrading Bacteria from Diesel Fuel-Contaminated Antarctic Soils

et al. 2017

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Antarctica is an attractive target for human exploration and scientific investigation, however the negative effects of human activity on this continent are long lasting and can have serious consequences on the native ecosystem. Various areas of Antarctica have been contaminated with diesel fuel, which contains harmful compounds such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Bioremediation of PAHs by the activity of microorganisms is an ecological, economical, and safe decontamination approach. Since the introduction of foreign organisms into the Antarctica is prohibited, it is key to discover native bacteria that can be used for diesel bioremediation. By following the degradation of the PAH phenanthrene, we isolated 53 PAH metabolizing bacteria from diesel contaminated Antarctic soil samples, with three of these isolates exhibiting a high phenanthrene degrading capacity. In particular, the Sphingobium xenophagum D43FB isolate showed the highest phenanthrene degradation ability, generating up to 95% degradation of initial phenanthrene. D43FB can also degrade phenanthrene in the presence of its usual co-pollutant, the heavy metal cadmium, and showed the ability to grow using diesel-fuel as a sole carbon source. Microtiter plate assays and SEM analysis revealed that S. xenophagum D43FB exhibits the ability to form biofilms and can directly adhere to phenanthrene crystals. Genome sequencing analysis also revealed the presence of several genes involved in PAH degradation and heavy metal resistance in the D43FB genome. Altogether, these results demonstrate that S. xenophagum D43FB shows promising potential for its application in the bioremediation of diesel fuel contaminated-Antarctic ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation and Characterization of Phenanthrene Degrading Bacteria from Diesel Fuel-Contaminated Antarctic Soils

et al. 2017

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“…Given the history of Brown Bay, and the former waste disposal site on its shore being a source of hydrocarbons since the 1980s, sediment in this location is likely to have an enhanced community of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria [ 72 ]. Degradation rates, however, have been found to be slow in Antarctic marine sediments [ 73 , 74 ] and thus this contamination is likely to persist well into the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contamination of the marine environment by Antarctic research stations: Monitoring marine pollution at Casey station from 1997 to 2015

et al. 2023

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The contamination of the marine environment surrounding coastal Antarctic research stations remains insufficiently understood in terms of its extent, persistence, and characteristics. We investigated the presence of contaminants in marine sediments near Casey Station, located in the Windmill Islands of East Antarctica, during the period spanning from 1997 to 2015. Metals, hydrocarbons, PBDEs, PCBs, and nutrients were measured in sediments at anthropogenically disturbed sites, including the wastewater outfall, the wharf area, two former waste disposal sites, and various control locations. Sampling was carried out at three spatial scales: Locations, which were generally kilometres apart and formed the primary scale for comparison; Sites, which were 100 meters apart within each location; and Plots, which were 10 meters apart within each site. Consistently higher concentrations of most contaminants, and in some cases nutrients, were observed at disturbed locations. Some locations also exhibited an increase in contaminant concentrations over time. The spatial distribution of sediment properties (such as grain size and organic matter) and contaminants displayed intricate patterns of variation. Variation in grain size depended on the size category, with fine grains (e.g., <63 μm) showing the greatest variation at the Location scale, while coarse grains exhibited minimal variation at this scale. Contaminant levels demonstrated significant differences between Locations, accounting for approximately 55% of the overall variation for metals, while the variation within the 10-meter scale generally exceeded that within the 100-meter scale. Residual variation among replicate samples was also very high, demonstrating the need for adequate replication in studies of sediments and contaminants around stations. Some contaminants exceeded international guidelines for sediment quality, including metals, hydrocarbons, and PCBs. We conclude that Antarctic research stations such as Casey are likely to pose a moderate level of long-term ecological risk to local marine ecosystems through marine pollution. However, contamination is expected to be confined to areas in close proximity to the stations, although its extent and concentration are anticipated to increase with time. Raising awareness of the contamination risks associated with Antarctic stations and implementing monitoring programs for marine environments adjacent to these stations can contribute to informed decision-making and the improvement of environmental management practices in Antarctica.

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“…Other sources of hydrocarbons include abandoned stations and fuel depots, wastewater outfalls, former waste disposal sites and vehicle wrecks (Raymond et al, 2017). Hydrocarbons spilled in Antarctic marine environments have been shown to persist in sediments for long periods and undergo very slow degradation (Thompson et al, 2006;Powell et al, 2010), causing effects in marine benthic communities (Lenihan and Oliver, 1995;Powell et al, 2010;Polmear et al, 2015;Stark et al, 2017), which are likely to persist for decades. Shipping activity poses the greatest risk of fuel and oil spills.…”

Section: Prognosesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change

et al. 2021

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Knowledge of life on the Southern Ocean seafloor has substantially grown since the beginning of this century with increasing ship-based surveys and regular monitoring sites, new technologies and greatly enhanced data sharing. However, seafloor habitats and their communities exhibit high spatial variability and heterogeneity that challenges the way in which we assess the state of the Southern Ocean benthos on larger scales. The Antarctic shelf is rich in diversity compared with deeper water areas, important for storing carbon (“blue carbon”) and provides habitat for commercial fish species. In this paper, we focus on the seafloor habitats of the Antarctic shelf, which are vulnerable to drivers of change including increasing ocean temperatures, iceberg scour, sea ice melt, ocean acidification, fishing pressures, pollution and non-indigenous species. Some of the most vulnerable areas include the West Antarctic Peninsula, which is experiencing rapid regional warming and increased iceberg-scouring, subantarctic islands and tourist destinations where human activities and environmental conditions increase the potential for the establishment of non-indigenous species and active fishing areas around South Georgia, Heard and MacDonald Islands. Vulnerable species include those in areas of regional warming with low thermal tolerance, calcifying species susceptible to increasing ocean acidity as well as slow-growing habitat-forming species that can be damaged by fishing gears e.g., sponges, bryozoan, and coral species. Management regimes can protect seafloor habitats and key species from fishing activities; some areas will need more protection than others, accounting for specific traits that make species vulnerable, slow growing and long-lived species, restricted locations with optimum physiological conditions and available food, and restricted distributions of rare species. Ecosystem-based management practices and long-term, highly protected areas may be the most effective tools in the preservation of vulnerable seafloor habitats. Here, we focus on outlining seafloor responses to drivers of change observed to date and projections for the future. We discuss the need for action to preserve seafloor habitats under climate change, fishing pressures and other anthropogenic impacts.

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Effects of diesel and lubricant oils on Antarctic benthic microbial communities over five years

Cited by 12 publications

References 35 publications

Isolation and Characterization of Phenanthrene Degrading Bacteria from Diesel Fuel-Contaminated Antarctic Soils

Isolation and Characterization of Phenanthrene Degrading Bacteria from Diesel Fuel-Contaminated Antarctic Soils

Contamination of the marine environment by Antarctic research stations: Monitoring marine pollution at Casey station from 1997 to 2015

Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change

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