Effects of oil pollution on attached microbial communities in short-term indoor microcosms

Abstract

An indoor microcosm experiment was carried out in order to investigate the effect of oil pollution on attached marine microbial communities. Microbial assemblages, including ciliates, on acrylic plates dipped in 35 L-liter cubic containers filled with WAF (Water Accommodated Fractions of crude oil) were monitored for 10 days and compared with the communities in the control. Significant differences of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were not shown between the control and the oil microcosm. Ciliate abundances typically increased in the oil. In the ciliates, sessilid group increased and sustained the community in the oil while euplotid group, especially Euplotes spp., was diminished. Conthurnia spp and Pseudovorticella sp. in sessilids occupied mostly ciliate abundances. In the microalgal community, Thalassionema frauenfeldii was a dominant diatom at the initial time but was considerably diminished with the oil exposing. Rapid growth of heterotrophic bacteria in the oil was observed and followed by an increase in heterotrophic nanoflagellates, which can provide good feeding conditions for the sessilid ciliate growth.ers filled with WAF (Water Accommodated Fractions of crude oil) were monitored for 10 days and compared with the communities in the control. Significant differences of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were not shown between the control and the oil microcosm. Ciliate abundances typically increased in the oil. In the ciliates, sessilid group increased and sustained the community in the oil while euplotid group, especially Euplotes spp., was diminished. Conthurnia spp and Pseudovorticella sp. in sessilids occupied mostly ciliate abundances. In the microalgal community, Thalassionema frauenfeldii was a dominant diatom at the initial time but was considerably diminished with the oil exposing. Rapid growth of heterotrophic bacteria in the oil was observed and followed by an increase in heterotrophic nanoflagellates, wh