Effects of Biostimulation on Growth of Indigenous Bacteria in Sub-Antarctic Soil Contamined with Oil Hydrocarbons
Article in
English
Authors
COULON F. (Observatoire océanologique(1)) DELILLE D. (Observatoire océanologique(1))
Abstract
In order to evaluate the efficiency of biostimulation of soil contaminated with oil hydrocarbons under sub-Antarctic conditions, a mesocosm study was initiated in May 2001 in the Kerguelen Archipelago (49°21'S, 70°13'E). The effects of temperature and fertilizer addition (Inipol EAP-22, Elf Atochem) on soil bacterial assemblages contaminated with hydrocarbons were studied in 6-l batches of subantarctic soil incubated in the dark. Six different conditions were used at three temperatures (4, 10 and 20°C): control, fertilizer (50 ml), diesel oil (100 ml), diesel oil (100 ml) + fertilizer (50 ml), "Arabian light" crude oil (100 ml) and crude oil (100 ml) + fertilizer (50 ml). Mesocosms were sampled on a regular basis over a seven-month period. All samples were analyzed for total bacteria, viable heterotrophic assemblages and hydrocarbon-utilising microflora. The results clearly showed a significant response of sub-Antarctic microbial soil communities to hydrocarbon contamination. Large increases in total, heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-utilising bacteria were observed (from less than 5 ¥ 105 MPN g-1 to more than 108 MPN g-1 for hydrocarbon degrading bacteria). Temperature elevation had no significant impact on the total or heterotrophic assemblages but induced a one order of magnitude increase in hydrocarbon-utilising bacteria in contaminated mesocosms. In contrast, fertilizer addition had no clear effect on hydrocarbon-degrading specific bacteria but stimulated heterotrophic growth in diesel oil-contaminated soils.
(1) Université Pierre et Marie Curie UMR-CNRS 7621 66650 Banyuls-sur-mer cedex France
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