Deep-Sea Oil Plume Enriches Indigenous Oil-Degrading Bacteria

Terry C. Hazen(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Eric A. Dubinsky(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Todd Z. DeSantis(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Gary L. Andersen(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Yvette M. Piceno(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Navjeet Singh(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Janet Jansson(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Alexander J. Probst(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Sharon Borglin(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Julian L. Fortney(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), William T. Stringfellow(University of the Pacific), Markus Bill(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Mark E. Conrad(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Lauren M. Tom(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Krystle L. Chavarría(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Thana R. Alusi(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Regina Lamendella(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Dominique C. Joyner(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), C. L. Spier(University of the Pacific), Jacob Bælum(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Manfred Auer(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Marcin Zemla(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Romy Chakraborty(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Eric Sonnenthal(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Patrik D’haeseleer(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Hoi‐Ying N. Holman(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Shariff Osman(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Zhenmei Lü(University of Oklahoma), Joy D. Van Nostrand(University of Oklahoma), Ye Deng(University of Oklahoma), Jizhong Zhou(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Olivia U. Mason(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
Science
August 24, 2010
10.1126/science.1195979
Cited by 1,218Open Access
Full Text

Abstract

Diving into Deep Water The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was one of the largest oil spills on record. Its setting at the bottom of the sea floor posed an unanticipated risk as substantial amounts of hydrocarbons leaked into the deepwater column. Three separate cruises identified and sampled deep underwater hydrocarbon plumes that existed in May and June, 2010—before the well head was ultimately sealed. Camilli et al. (p. 201 ; published online 19 August) used an automated underwater vehicle to assess the dimensions of a stabilized, diffuse underwater plume of oil that was 22 miles long and estimated the daily quantity of oil released from the well, based on the concentration and dimensions of the plume. Hazen et al. (p. 204 ; published online 26 August) also observed an underwater plume at the same depth and found that hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were enriched in the plume and were breaking down some parts of the oil. Finally, Valentine et al. (p. 208 ; published online 16 September) found that natural gas, including propane and ethane, were also present in hydrocarbon plumes. These gases were broken down quickly by bacteria, but primed the system for biodegradation of larger hydrocarbons, including those comprising the leaking crude oil. Differences were observed in dissolved oxygen levels in the plumes (a proxy for bacterial respiration), which may reflect differences in the location of sampling or the aging of the plumes.

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