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 10 L-liter cubic container filled with WAF (Water Accommodated Fractions of crude oil) were monitored during 10 days and compared with the communities in the control. Total ciliate abundances were largely decreased in the WAF. Especially, dominant species at the initial time before the oil exposure, Eufolliculina sp. and Aspidisca spp., were greatly crashed. However, peritrich ciliates were increased and sustained during the experiment period. In the case of microalgal community, Thalassionema frauenfeldii which was a dominant diatom at the initial time was considerably damaged while Nitzschia directa showed durable in WAF under available silicates. A rapid growth of heterotrophic bacteria was observed and followed by increase of heterotrophic nanoflagellates, which can provide good prey conditions for the peritrich sustainable survival. filled with WAF (Water Accommodated Fractions of crude oil) were monitored during 10 days and compared with the communities in the control. Total ciliate abundances were largely decreased in the WAF. Especially, dominant species at the initial time before the oil exposure, Eufolliculina sp. and Aspidisca spp., were greatly crashed. However, peritrich ciliates were increased and sustained during the experiment period. In the case of microalgal community, Thalassionema frauenfeldii which was a dominant diatom at the initial time was considerably damaged while Nitzschia directa showed durable in WAF under available silicates. A rapid growth of heterotrophic bacteria was observed and followed by increase of heterotrophic nanoflagellates, which can provide good prey conditions for the peritrich sustainable survival.