Skip to main content
Log in

Factors influencing hydrocarbon degradation in three freshwater lakes

  • Published:
Microbial Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mixed microbial flora of 3 lakes in Ohio with differing histories of hydrocarbon pollution was examined in relation to the ability to use hydrocarbons. Weathered kerosene was spiked with naphthalene, pristane, 1,13-tetradecadiene, andn-hexadecane and added to water-sediment mixtures from the 3 lakes, and utilization of the 4 marker hydrocarbons was measured. Each of the marker hydrocarbons was metabolized; naphthalene was the most readily used and pristane was the most resistant. Values for dissolved oxygen suggest that oxygen did not limit hydrocarbon degradation in the water column at any site examined. Nutrient addition studies indicated that nitrogen and phosphorus limited hydrocarbon degradation at all sites examined. Maximum numbers of heterotrophic bacteria were detected when the water temperature was 10°C or higher. The data indicate that temperature limits hydrocarbon degradation in the winter, except at a site which had been impacted by an oil spill and which received chronic inputs of hydrocarbons and nutrients. In samples from that site, all 4 marker hydrocarbons were degraded at 0°C. Results of temperature and nutrient-addition experiments suggest that different seasonal populations of hydrocarbon users are selected at that site, but not at other lake sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atlas RM (1981) Microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons: an environmental perspective. Microbiol Rev 45:180–208

    Google Scholar 

  2. Atlas RM, Bartha R (1972) Degradation and mineralization of petroleum in seawater: limitation by nitrogen and phosphorus. Biotechnol Bioeng 14:309–318

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Atlas RM, Bartha R (1972) Biodegradation of petroleum in seawater at low temperatures. Can J Microbiol 18:1851–1855

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Atlas RM, Busdosh M (1976) Microbial degradation of petroleum in the Arctic. In: Sharpley JM, Kaplan AM (eds) Proceedings of the Third International Biodegradation Symposium, Applied Science Publishers Ltd., London, pp 79–85

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bartha R, Atlas RM (1977) The microbiology of aquatic oil spills. Adv Appl Microbiol 22: 225–266

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cerniglia CE, Perry JJ (1973) Crude oil degradation by microorganisms isolated from the marine environment. Z Allg Microbiol 13:299–306

    Google Scholar 

  7. Cooney JJ (1984) The fate of petroleum pollutants in freshwater ecosystems. In: Atlas RM (ed) Petroleum microbiology, pp 399–433

  8. Cooney JJ, Summers RJ (1976) Hydrocarbon-using microorganisms in three fresh-water ecosystems. In: Sharpley JM, Kaplan AM (eds) Proceedings of the Third International Biodegradation Symposium, Applied Science Publishers Ltd., London, pp 141–155

    Google Scholar 

  9. Foght JM, Westlake DWS (1982) Effect of dispersant Corexit 9527 on the microbial degradation of Prudhoe Bay oil. Can J Microbiol 28:117–122

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gibbs CF (1975) Quantitative studies of marine biodegradation of oil. I. Nutrient limitation at 14°C. Proc R Soc Lond B. (Biol Sci) 188:61–82

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hambrick GA III, DeLaune RD, Patrick WH Jr (1980) Effect of estuarine sediment pH and oxidation-reduction potential on microbial hydrocarbon degradation. Appl Environ Microbiol 40:365–369

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hughes DE, McKenzie P (1975) The microbial degradation of oil in the sea. Proc R Soc Lond B (Biol Sci) 189:375–390

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jamison VW, Raymond RL, Hudson JO Jr (1975) Biodegradation of high-octane gasoline in groundwater. Dev Ind Microbiol 16:305–312

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ward DM, Brock TD (1976) Environmental factors influencing the rate of hydrocarbon oxidation in temperate lakes. Appl Environ Microbiol 31:764–772

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cooney, J.J., Silver, S.A. & Beck, E.A. Factors influencing hydrocarbon degradation in three freshwater lakes. Microb Ecol 11, 127–137 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010485

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010485

Keywords

Navigation