Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in oil-contaminated soils near Scott Base, Antarctica

Oil is spilt in the Antarctic when fuel oils such as JP8 jet fuel and MoGas are moved or stored. Hydrocarbons, both n-alkanes and aromatic compounds, have been detected in soils around Scott Base. In such areas hydrocarbon-degrading microbes could be used to clean up the oil spills. Soil samples from oil-impacted and control sites were analysed for hydrocarbon-degrading microbes and a range of parameters known to limit biodegradative activity. Soils were analysed for water content, pH, electrical conductivity, and concentrations of nutrients (N and P). Some of the oil-contaminated samples were enriched with culturable heterotrophic bacteria and hydrocarbon degraders. Bacteria able to utilise JP8 jet fuel were isolated, and most used n-alkanes as their sole source of carbon. Preliminary results indicate that low levels of nitrogen may limit biodegradation of oil at some of the contaminated sites.