Hydrocarbon mineralization in soil: Relative bacterial and fungal contribution

Song, Ho‐Yeon; Pedersen, T. A.; Bartha, Richárd

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(86)90111-2

Cited by 42 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…These differences may be related to the presence of uncultivated microbes, including eukaryotes, which would not have been captured using bacterial culture media. A previous study demon- strated that bacteria and fungi were responsible for 82% and 13% of hexadecane degradation, respectively (53), and the high efficiency of degradation in the cultured microbiome subsets reinforces the importance of bacteria in hydrocarbon degradation, especially when PAH compounds are not abundant. A diverse microbiome, while functionally similar to a less diverse microbiome, might also adapt better to multiple environments and better tolerate changing environmental conditions (e.g., increasing salt concentrations and warming [54]).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 69%

A Diverse Soil Microbiome Degrades More Crude Oil than Specialized Bacterial Assemblages Obtained in Culture

Bell

Stefani

Abram

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Soil microbiome modification may alter system function, which may enhance processes like bioremediation. In this study, we filled microcosms with gamma-irradiated soil that was reinoculated with the initial soil or cultivated bacterial subsets obtained on regular media (REG-M) or media containing crude oil (CO-M). We allowed 8 weeks for microbiome stabilization, added crude oil and monoammonium phosphate, incubated the microcosms for another 6 weeks, and then measured the biodegradation of crude oil components, bacterial taxonomy, and functional gene composition. We hypothesized that the biodegradation of targeted crude oil components would be enhanced by limiting the microbial taxa competing for resources and by specifically selecting bacteria involved in crude oil biodegradation (i.e., CO-M). Postincubation, large differences in taxonomy and functional gene composition between the three microbiome types remained, indicating that purposeful soil microbiome structuring is feasible. Although phylum-level bacterial taxonomy was constrained, operational taxonomic unit composition varied between microbiome types. Contrary to our hypothesis, the biodegradation of C 10 to C 50 hydrocarbons was highest when the original microbiome was reinoculated, despite a higher relative abundance of alkane hydroxylase genes in the CO-M microbiomes and of carbon-processing genes in the REG-M microbiomes. Despite increases in the relative abundances of genes potentially linked to hydrocarbon processing in cultivated subsets of the microbiome, reinoculation of the initial microbiome led to maximum biodegradation. IMPORTANCEIn this study, we show that it is possible to sustainably modify microbial assemblages in soil. This has implications for biotechnology, as modification of gut microbial assemblages has led to improved treatments for diseases like Clostridium difficile infection. Although the soil environment determined which major phylogenetic groups of bacteria would dominate the assemblage, we saw differences at lower levels of taxonomy and in functional gene composition (e.g., genes related to hydrocarbon degradation). Further studies are needed to determine the success of such an approach in nonsterile environments. Although the biodegradation of certain crude oil fractions was still the highest when we inoculated with the diverse initial microbiome, the possibility of discovering and establishing microbiomes that are more efficient in crude oil degradation is not precluded. O il production, oil spills, and the storage of oily wastes by the petroleum industry have led to massive releases of petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, making them some of the most ubiquitous environmental pollutants (1). Conventional decontamination technologies such as excavation (i.e., dig and dump), incineration, and chemical treatment of contaminants are costly and may further disrupt disturbed ecosystems (2, 3). When effective, bioremediation is a cheaper and more sustainable approach to decontamination. Bioaugmentation, the additio...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 69%

A Diverse Soil Microbiome Degrades More Crude Oil than Specialized Bacterial Assemblages Obtained in Culture

Bell

Stefani

Abram

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…The buffering capacity of each soil sets a practical limit to pH adjustment and no absolute pH optimum was established, but pH 7.0-7.8 appeared to be very close to the optimum. As bacteria have a pH optimum at or above neutrality, whereas most fungi are tolerant to lower pH, the favorable effect of liming on hydrocarbon biodegradation is consistent with a bacterial dominance in terrestrial hydrocarbon biodegradation (Song et al, 1986).…”

Section: Reaction (Ph)mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…This projection is questionable, but in situ measurements of hydrocarbon biodegradation activity are few. Using selective inhibitors, Song et al (1986) determined that in a field soil with no hydrocarbon spill history, 80% of added hexadecane was degraded by bacteria and only 20% by fungi. In the same soil, glucose degradation was shared evenly by the bacterial and fungal population segments.…”

Section: Hydrocarbon-degrading Microbial Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrocarbon Biodegradation and Oil Spill Bioremediation

Atlas

Bartha

1992

Advances in Microbial Ecology

346

173

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“…Bartha and Bossert (1984) have listed 22 genera of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and 31 genera of fungi isolated from soil. In a comparative study of hydrocarbon degradation by bacteria and fungi, Song et al (1986) found that 82% of n-hexadecane mineralization n-hexadecane mineralization in a sandy plume was attributed to bacteria, while only 14% was due to fungi.…”

Section: Microbial Diversity and Biodegradationmentioning

confidence: 97%