Effects of oil spills on microbial heterotrophs in Antarctic soils

Oil spillage on the moist coastal soils of the Ross Sea region of Antarctica can impact on populations of microbial heterotrophs in these soils, as determined by viable plate counts and a most probable number technique. Elevated numbers of culturable hydrocarbon degraders, bacteria and fungi were detected in surface and subsurface soils from oil-contaminated sites, compared with nearby control sites. Culturable yeasts were not detected in soil from coastal control sites, yet reached >105 organisms g–1 dry weight in contaminated soils. The presence of hydrocarbons in soils resulted in a shift in the genera of culturable filamentous fungi. Chrysosporium dominated control soils, yet Phialophora was more abundant in oil-contaminated soils. Hydrocarbon degraders are most likely bacteria; however, fungi could play a role in degradation of hydrocarbons or their metabolites. Depleted levels of nitrate detected in some contaminated soils and decreased pH may be the result of growth of hydrocarbon degraders. Numbers and diversity of culturable microbes from Antarctic soil varied depending on whether a pristine site or a human-impacted (in this case, by fuel spills) site is studied.