Tonka
Well-known member
http://www.abc.es/20100825/sociedad/hallan-bacterias-comepetroleo-vertido-20100825.html
Society / BIODEGRADATION
Bacteria are speeding biodegration in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
ABC / MADRID
25/08/2010 Scientists at the Berkeley Laboratory (USA) have obtained evidence of the natural degradation of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Their findings, published in the journal "Science" are the discovery of hidden bacteria in the deep sea that digest oil. The presence of these marine organisms can be vital in cleaning up the spill, one of the largest in history.
The group directed by Terry Hazen, microbial ecologist Division of Earth Sciences at Berkeley and principal investigator with the Institute of Biosciences, found that microbial activity, led by a new species unsorted oil is degraded faster expected. Experts suggest that the reason is that such degradation is occurring in areas where there is a significant level of oxygen, which explains why this bacterium from the family of the proteobacteria-gamma was not much studied so far.
"Our results show that the influx of oil has altered the microbial community, stimulating the gamma-proteobacteria psychrophiles" said Hazen. The researchers also think that one of the dispersants used-Corexit 9500 - would have accelerated the process of biodegradation
Society / BIODEGRADATION
Bacteria are speeding biodegration in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
ABC / MADRID
25/08/2010 Scientists at the Berkeley Laboratory (USA) have obtained evidence of the natural degradation of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Their findings, published in the journal "Science" are the discovery of hidden bacteria in the deep sea that digest oil. The presence of these marine organisms can be vital in cleaning up the spill, one of the largest in history.
The group directed by Terry Hazen, microbial ecologist Division of Earth Sciences at Berkeley and principal investigator with the Institute of Biosciences, found that microbial activity, led by a new species unsorted oil is degraded faster expected. Experts suggest that the reason is that such degradation is occurring in areas where there is a significant level of oxygen, which explains why this bacterium from the family of the proteobacteria-gamma was not much studied so far.
"Our results show that the influx of oil has altered the microbial community, stimulating the gamma-proteobacteria psychrophiles" said Hazen. The researchers also think that one of the dispersants used-Corexit 9500 - would have accelerated the process of biodegradation