Enhanced crude oil biodegradative potential of natural phytoplankton‐associated hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria

• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13811
• Publication Date: 2017-06-06T04:36:52Z
• Authors: Haydn Thompson; Angelina Angelova; Bernard Bowler; Martin Jones; Tony Gutierrez
• Keywords: Marine snow

Summary Phytoplankton have been shown to harbour a diversity of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (HCB), yet it is not understood how these phytoplankton‐associated HCB would respond in the event an oil spill at sea. Here, we assess and dynamics bacterial community associated with natural population marine phytoplankton under spill‐simulated conditions, compare that free‐living (non phytoplankton‐associated) community. While crude severely impacted was likely conducive snow formation, analysis MiSeq‐derived 16S rRNA data revealed dramatic differential shifts oil‐amended communities included blooms recognized (e.g., Thalassospira , Cycloclasticus ), including putative novel phyla, as well other groups previously unqualified oil‐degrading potential ( Olleya Winogradskyella members inconspicuous BD7‐3 phylum). Notably, biodegradation exceeded community, showed preference degrade substituted non‐substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Our study provides evidence compartmentalization hydrocarbon‐degrading capacity water column, wherein are better tuned degrading hydrocarbons than by planktonic bacteria.