Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in Utah’s Great Salt Lake

Abstract

The Great Salt Lake comprises two high salinity arms, the North at 34% salinity, and the larger South at 16%. The biodegradation of gasoline range alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatics, alkenes and cycloalkenes was extensive in samples from both arms, although slower than in fresh- and sea-water. Less volatile hydrocarbons in weathered crude oil were degraded less extensively, and again more slowly than in sea or fresh-water. The substrates subject to degradation are substantially more diverse than has previously been reported, and indicate that biodegradation will likely be the eventual fate of any petroleum hydrocarbons that enter the lake and do not evaporate. The biodegradation is, however, much slower than in other environments, and we discuss whether it might be increased to meet anthropogenic pollution, perhaps by nutrient supplementation with organic nitrogen.