Abstract
Effects of Biostimulation on Growth of Indigenous Bacteria in Sub-Antarctic Soil Contamined with Oil Hydrocarbons — In order to evaluate the efficiency of biostimulation of soil contaminated with oil hydrocarbons under sub-Antarctic conditions, a mesocosm study was initiated in May 2001 in the Kerguelen Archipelago (49°21'S, 70°13'E). The effects of temperature and fertilizer addition (Inipol EAP-22, Elf Atochem) on soil bacterial assemblages contaminated with hydrocarbons were studied in 6-l batches of subantarctic soil incubated in the dark. Six different conditions were used at three temperatures (4, 10 and 20°C): control, fertilizer (50 ml), diesel oil (100 ml), diesel oil (100 ml) + fertilizer (50 ml), Arabian light crude oil (100 ml) and crude oil (100 ml) + fertilizer (50 ml). Mesocosms were sampled on a regular basis over a seven-month period. All samples were analyzed for total bacteria, viable heterotrophic assemblages and hydrocarbon-utilising microflora. The results clearly showed a significant response of sub-Antarctic microbial soil communities to hydrocarbon contamination. Large increases in total, heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-utilising bacteria were observed
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