Experimentell- ökologische Untersuchungen über die limitierenden Faktoren des mikrobiellen Ölabbaues im marinen Milieu

Abstract

This contribution deals with model experiments of bacterial oil degradation. It considers oils which are likely to pollute the marine environment. The amounts of different oils resisting bacterial degradation were determined quantitatively. Numbers of oil decomposing bacteria were counted using a MPN (most-probable-number) technique with mineral oils as the only carbon source. The influence of the following factors was determined: inorganic nitrogen- and phosphate salts, enrichment cultures, easily decomposable organic substances (other than oil), and temperature. In most experiments freshly sampled seawater with its natural content of marine bacteria was used. The special distribution of oil decomposing bacteria in oil-water mixtures was investigated. The possible influence of these factors on the degradation of mineral oils in the sea is discussed. © 1967 Biologischen Anstalt Helgoland.