The Prestige oil spill: bacterial community dynamics during a field biostimulation assay

Abstract

A field bioremediation assay using the oleophilic fertilizer S200 was carried out 12 months after the Prestige heavy fuel-oil spill on a beach on the Cantabrian coast (north Spain). This assay showed that S200-enhanced oil degradation, particularly of high-molecular-weight n-alkanes and alkylated PAHs, suggesting an increase in the microbial bioavailability of these compounds. The bacterial community structure was determined by cultivation-independent analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rDNA by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Bacterial community was mainly composed of alpha-Proteobacteria (Rhodobacteriaceae and Sphingomonadaceae). Representatives of gamma-Proteobacteria (Chromatiales, Moraxellaceae, and Halomonadaceae), Bacteroidetes (Flavobacteriaceae), and Actinobacteria group (Nocardiaceae and Corynebacteriaceae) were also found. The addition of the fertilizer led to the appearance of the bacterium Mesonia algae in the early stages, with a narrow range of growth substrates, which has been associated with the common alga Achrosiphonia sonderi. The presence of Mesonia algae may be attributable to the response of the microbial community to the addition of N and P rather than indicating a role in the biodegradation process. The Rhodococcus group appeared in both assay plots, especially at the end of the experiment. It was also found at another site on the Galician coast that had been affected by the same spill. This genus has been associated with the degradation of n-alkanes up to C(36). Taking into account the high content of heavy alkanes in the Prestige fuel, these microorganisms could play a significant role in the degradation of such fuel. A similar bacterial community structure was observed at another site that showed a similar degree of fuel weathering.

Bacterial Communities from Shoreline Environments (Costa da Morte, Northwestern Spain) Affected by the Prestige Oil Spill

“…In addition, several sequences found in our clone libraries showed at least 99% similarity to other DGGE bands detected in that study. What is more interesting is that DGGE profiles from that study became more similar to those of our OR and OS samples at advanced stages of the degradation process (27), which agrees with our hypothesis. Although samples were taken from rock surfaces similar to our OR, the beach was more than 400 km from our sampling point.…”

“…Sequences close to Rhodococcus, Chromatiales, Rhodobacteraceae, Roseobacter (Citreicella), and Erythrobacter detected in both of the samples under study (OR and OS) were, respectively, identical to the sequences with accession numbers DQ870544, DQ870518, DQ870525, DQ870519, and DQ870538 retrieved from another cobblestone beach affected by the Prestige spill (27). In addition, several sequences found in our clone libraries showed at least 99% similarity to other DGGE bands detected in that study.…”

“…This strain, first isolated from seawater as a PAH-degrading bacterium by Y. Kodama and K. Watanabe in 2006 (unpublished results), was detected with the same sequence as an "uncultured Roseobacter sp. (DQ870519)" in supralittoral rocks affected by the Prestige oil spill more than 400 km from our sampling site (27). This bacterium might need a cofactor available in the bacterial community of the oiled cobblestones to develop its degrading capacity since no growth was observed in the aromatic degradation test of RP3 in mineral medium with phenanthrene.…”

Batch treatment of liquid fraction of pig slurry by intermittent aeration: process simulation and microbial community analysis

“…All polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed with a mastercycler gradient (Eppendorff, Hamburg, Germany) as described previously. 25 The DGGE protocol was similar to that described by Muyzer et al 26 Approximately 800 ng DNA of purified PCR product quantified using low DNA mass ladder (Gibco BRL, Rockville, MD, USA) was loaded onto a 6% (w/v) polyacrylamide gel (0.75 mm), with a denaturing chemical gradient ranging from 30% to 70% (100% denaturant stock solution contained 7 mol L −1 urea and…”

Effectiveness of Bioremediation Processes of Hydrocarbon Pollutants in Weathered Drill Wastes

“…Among the most active bacteria able to biodegrade hydrocarbon are Acinetobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp., Bacillus sp., Flavobacterium sp., Mycobacterium sp., Micrococcus sp., Nocardia sp., Pseudomonas sp., Rhodococcus sp., and Sphingomonas sp. (Atlas 1984;Liu and Suflita 1993;Korda et al 1997;Rahman et al 2002;Van Hamme et al 2003;Kaplan and Kitts 2004;Lalucat et al 2006;Popp et al 2006;Hamamura et al 2006;Harmsen et al 2007;Jiménez et al 2007). …”