Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-27-1996

Abstract

In a 28 d microcosm study, we examined the effects of diesel-contaminated sediment on the sedimentary bacterial community of a Louisiana (USA) salt marsh that has been chronically exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons for decades. Diesel contaminants in microcosms as determined from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration ranged from 0.55 to 55 ppm (dry weight). Bacterial metabolism (incorporation of 14C-acetate and 3H-leucine) and bacterial abundance were not affected by diesel-contaminated sediment at any concentration. Bacterial degradation of 14C-phenanthrene, however, increased in direct proportion to the amount of diesel- contaminated sediment added. Ambient sediment also exhibited significant capacity to degrade PAH. The half life of phenanthrene (based on 14C-phenanthrene-degradation experiments) ranged from 137 d in ambient sediments to 4.5 d in sediment chronically exposed to high levels of diesel-contaminated sediments for 28 d. Two- and three-ring PAH, including naphthalenes, phenanthrenes, and dibenzothiophenes, constituted the bulk of PAH composition of diesel and were rapidly metabolized. Alkylated PAH were also readily metabolized. The rapid removal of PAH suggests that even if the marsh were exposed to chronically high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons, chemical evidence of the contaminants would not be detected in sediments. Collectively, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the bacterial community in this salt marsh has adapted to chronic exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Aquatic Microbial Ecology

First Page

231

Last Page

241

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