Response of cold-adapted microbial populations in a permafrost profile to hydrocarbon contaminants

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Authors: Rike, A.G., Børresen, M., Instanes, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2001
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Arctic; Svalbard; Ny-Ålesund; Ny Ålesund; permafrost; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400027261; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400027261

Abstract Heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-degrading microbial populations in soils from different depths in a permafrost soil profile at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, were examined and compared to the populations present at a pristine site. The objective was to investigate whether the populations were enhanced after 12 years of exposure to hydrocarbons. Based on air and soil temperature data, it is concluded that the microorganisms living in these environments are cold-adapted. Proliferation of the populations by a factor of 100–1000 was measured in the layers where mineral oil was present in high concentrations. This indicates that the populations responded to the additional carbon source by degradation and growth on hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon metabolites. A high number of intrinsic heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria is a prerequisite for in situ bioremediation of contaminated sites. Although the hydrocarbon-degrading activities of the populations are not known, the results show that the population sizes probably do not represent the limiting factor in a bioremedial action at this contaminated Arctic permafrost site.