Marine Oil Snow, a Microbial Perspective

Gregson, Benjamin H.; McKew, Boyd A.; Holland, Robert D.; Nedwed, Timothy; Prince, Roger C.; McGenity, Terry J.

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.619484

Cited by 25 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 289 publications

(434 reference statements)

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“…Another species, Alteromonas strain TK-46, that became enriched in sea surface oil slicks during the DWH spill, contributed to the formation of marine oil snow (MOS) and/or dispersion of the oil (Gutierrez et al, 2018). The presence of this genus as one of the most dominant in our samples in the water column as well as the presence of Pseudoalteromonas, both producers of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) which are a major component of the total DOM pool in the ocean (Gregson et al, 2021), suggest that members of these genera may contribute to dispersion of the oil, if a spill occurs.…”

Section: Bacterial Taxonomy Of the Water Column In The Southern Gommentioning

confidence: 91%

Bacteria From the Southern Gulf of Mexico: Baseline, Diversity, Hydrocarbon-Degrading Potential and Future Applications

et al. 2021

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Consortium (Consorcio de Investigación del Golfo de México (CIGoM), 2020) was founded in 2015 as a consortium of scientific research and consulting services, specializing in multidisciplinary projects related to the potential environmental impacts of natural and human-induced oil spills in marine ecosystems, to understand and act in the case of possible large-scale oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. CIGoM comprises more than 300 specialized researchers trained at the most recognized Mexican institutions. Among the main interests of CIGoM are developing the first baseline of the bacterial community inhabiting the southern Gulf of Mexico, investigating the natural degradation of hydrocarbons by bacterial communities and microbial consortia and identifying and characterizing industrially relevant enzymes. In this review, using third-generation sequencing methodologies coupled to function screening methodologies, we report the bacterial profile found in samples of water and sediments in Mexican regions that include the Perdido Fold Belt (northwest of Mexico), Campeche Knolls (in the southeast) and Southwest region of the Gulf of Mexico. We also highlight some examples of novel lipases and dioxygenases with high biotechnological potential and some culturable hydrocarbon-degrading strains used in diverse bioremediation processes.

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Section: Bacterial Taxonomy Of the Water Column In The Southern Gommentioning

confidence: 91%

Bacteria From the Southern Gulf of Mexico: Baseline, Diversity, Hydrocarbon-Degrading Potential and Future Applications

et al. 2021

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“…Indeed, MOSSFA events are now recognized as a potential pathway for oil distribution in the marine environment, and the need to integrate this process into spill response planning has been recognized (Jacketti et al, 2020;Ross et al, 2021). Whereas aggregation between suspended sediments and oil [e.g., oilsediment aggregations (OSA), also called oil-mineral-aggregates (OMAs), mineral-oil-aggregates (MOA), oil-particle aggregates (OPA) or oil-suspended-particulate-material-aggregates] form predominately via direct coagulation between oil droplets and particulates or sediments (Khelifa and Hill, 2006;Gong et al, 2014;Zhao et al, 2016), exopolymers released by bacteria and phytoplankton are an essential ingredient for the biologically mediated formation of marine snow and MOS (see recent reviews by Quigg et al, 2016;Burd et al, 2020;Santschi et al, 2020;Gregson et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers (ADDOMEx): Toward a Synthesis of Processes and Pathways of Marine Oil Snow Formation in Determining the Fate of Hydrocarbons

Quigg

Santschi

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Microbes (bacteria, phytoplankton) in the ocean are responsible for the copious production of exopolymeric substances (EPS) that include transparent exopolymeric particles. These materials act as a matrix to form marine snow. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, marine oil snow (MOS) formed in massive quantities and influenced the fate and transport of oil in the ocean. The processes and pathways of MOS formation require further elucidation to be better understood, in particular we need to better understand how dispersants affect aggregation and degradation of oil. Toward that end, recent work has characterized EPS as a function of microbial community and environmental conditions. We present a conceptual model that incorporates recent findings in our understanding of the driving forces of MOS sedimentation and flocculent accumulation (MOSSFA) including factors that influence the scavenging of oil into MOS and the routes that promote decomposition of the oil post MOS formation. In particular, the model incorporates advances in our understanding of processes that control interactions between oil, dispersant, and EPS in producing either MOS that can sink or dispersed gels promoting microbial degradation of oil compounds. A critical element is the role of protein to carbohydrate ratios (P/C ratios) of EPS in the aggregation process of colloid and particle formation. The P/C ratio of EPS provides a chemical basis for the “stickiness” factor that is used in analytical or numerical simulations of the aggregation process. This factor also provides a relative measure for the strength of attachment of EPS to particle surfaces. Results from recent laboratory experiments demonstrate (i) the rapid formation of microbial assemblages, including their EPS, on oil droplets that is enhanced in the presence of Corexit-dispersed oil, and (ii) the subsequent rapid oil oxidation and microbial degradation in water. These findings, combined with the conceptual model, further improve our understanding of the fate of the sinking MOS (e.g., subsequent sedimentation and preservation/degradation) and expand our ability to predict the behavior and transport of spilled oil in the ocean, and the potential effects of Corexit application, specifically with respect to MOS processes (i.e., formation, fate, and half-lives) and Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation.

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“…Several other studies also observe that dispersants increase biodegradation (Brakstad et al, 2015; and enhance the growth of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (HCB) (Hazen et al, 2010;Dubinsky et al, 2013;Ribicic et al, 2018). In contrast, other studies show that dispersants may not enhance biodegradation (Lindstrom and Braddock, 2002;Rahsepar et al, 2016) or may even inhibit the growth of HCB (Hamdan and Fulmer, 2011;Kleindienst et al, 2015); though there are many criticisms of the experimental procedures used in these studies (Gregson et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison between Chemical and Natural Dispersion of a North Sea Oil-spill

Thomas

McGenity

Zeinstra-Helfrich

et al. 2021

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings

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The application of dispersants to an oil-slick is a key remediation tool and thus understanding its effectiveness is vital. Two in situ oil slicks were created in the North Sea (off the coast of The Netherlands), one left to natural processes whilst dispersant (Slickgone NS) was applied to the other. GC-MS analysis of seawater from the surface slick, and at 1.5 and 5 m below the slick, revealed only two samples with measurable hydrocarbons (221 ± 92 μg ml−1 seawater), from the surface of the “Slickgone Dispersed” oil-slick ~25.5 hours after oil-slick formation, which was likely due to environmental conditions hindering sampling. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene quantitative PCR and amplicon analysis revealed extremely limited growth of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB), detected at a relative abundance of <1×10-6 %. Furthermore, the Ecological Index of Hydrocarbon Exposure (EIHE) score, which quantifies the proportion of the bacterial community with hydrocarbon-biodegradation potential, was extremely low at 0.012 (scale of 0 – 1). This very low abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria at the time of sampling, even in samples with measurable hydrocarbons, could potentially be attributed to nutrient limitation (~25.5 hours after oil-slick creation total inorganic nitrogen was 3.33 μM and phosphorus was undetectable). The results of this study highlight a limited capacity for the environment, during this relatively short period, to naturally attenuate oil.

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Marine Oil Snow, a Microbial Perspective

Cited by 25 publications

References 289 publications

Bacteria From the Southern Gulf of Mexico: Baseline, Diversity, Hydrocarbon-Degrading Potential and Future Applications

Bacteria From the Southern Gulf of Mexico: Baseline, Diversity, Hydrocarbon-Degrading Potential and Future Applications

Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers (ADDOMEx): Toward a Synthesis of Processes and Pathways of Marine Oil Snow Formation in Determining the Fate of Hydrocarbons

A Comparison between Chemical and Natural Dispersion of a North Sea Oil-spill

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