Spatial and seasonal distribution of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria of sediment from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Date

1982

Authors

Alexander, S.K.; Schropp, S.J.; Schwarz, J.R.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria were enumerated in sediment collected seasonally from four sites representative of offshore, using the most-probable-number (MPN) method, were detected in 438 of 448 samples in numbers that ranged from 8.0 x 10 to 1.1 x 10 exp 8 per ml wet sediment. The total viable heterotrophic population in 70% of the sediment samples contained less than 2% hydrocarbon utilizers. Analysis of spatial variations revealed that populations were most abundant in estuarine sediment and decreased with increasing distance from shore. Significant seasonal differences were observed at all four sites, with highest numbers in summer or fall. Spatial variations in population levels may be related to hydrocarbon input, while seasonal changes may be controlled primarily by temperature. Results from the present study indicate that sediments from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico contain a dynamic resident population of bacteria capable of utilizing hydrocarbons.

Description

pages 13-19

Keywords

bacteria; microbiology; seasonal distribution; spatial variations; hydrocarbons; sediment analysis; sediments

Citation

Alexander, S.K.; Schropp, S.J.; Schwarz, J.R. 1982. Spatial and seasonal distribution of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria of sediment from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Contributions in Marine Science 25: 13-19.