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ANNUAL CONFERENCE :: Abstract Library
Abstract Library
2003 Conference Abstract
| Type of Submission |
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Submission Type: |
Poster Presentation |
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Subject Category: |
Environmental Microbiology |
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| Session Information |
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Presentation Date: |
May 27, 2003 |
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Abstract ID: |
B18 |
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Session: |
Poster 2 |
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Time: |
15:00 |
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| Presenting Author |
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| Other Authors |
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B. DRISCOLL, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
K. LEE, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
C.W. GREER, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council
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| Title |
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Microbiological and molecular analysis of oil contaminated marine sediments: 30 years after the spill. |
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| Abstract Text |
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In 1970 the Arrow oil spill, which occurred between Nova Scotia and Cape Breton in Chedabucto Bay, contaminated 305 kilometers of shoreline, including Black Duck Cove. After nearly thirty-two years of weathering, the spilled Bunker C oil is still present in the form of residual oil in the sediment. Aerial and land surveys have demonstrated that natural weathering has occurred throughout this period, but it was relatively slow, especially in areas like Black Duck Cove lagoon. Mineralization assays (using hexadecane, octacosane and naphthalene as substrates), performed on sediments collected for this study indicated the presence of an active indigenous, degradative microbial population, however, genes from known bacterial alkane degradation pathways (alkB) were not detected by direct extraction of sediment DNA and PCR amplification. Enrichment cultures were developed from the sediments to attempt to identify the microorganisms responsible for the observed degradation activity. Denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to monitor the microbial community structure and determine any changes during enrichment. The mineralization rate for both naphthalene and hexadecane were more than doubled by the third sequential enrichment. Pure cultures were isolated from the enrichments and tested individually for the ability to mineralize hexadecane and naphthalene. A colony that mineralized hexadecane and was positive for the alkBdegradation gene was isolated and identified as Rhodococcussp. by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The microbiological and molecular characterization work that is being performed on the Black Duck Cove sediments is provding a better understanding of the microbial community structure and its function in the natural remediation of this area. |
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