Microbial Succession under Freeze–Thaw Events and Its Potential for Hydrocarbon Degradation in Nutrient-Amended Antarctic Soil

• Published in: Microorganisms
• Main Authors: Jesus, Hugo Emiliano de, Carreira, Renato S., Paiva, Simone S. M., Massone, Carlos, Enrich-Prast, Alex, Peixoto, Raquel S, Rodrigues, Jorge L. Mazza, Lee, Charles K., Cary, Craig, Rosado, Alexandre S.
• Other Authors: Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Bioscience Program, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Marine Science Program, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil, Laboratory of Marine and Environmental Studies, Department of Chemistry, PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 22541-041, Brazil, Multiuser Unit of Environmental Analysis, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil;, Department of Thematic Studies-Environmental Change, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA;, ICTAR-The International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato, 3216, Hamilton, New Zealand;
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: MDPI AG 2021
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10754/668194; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030609

The polar regions have relatively low richness and diversity of plants and animals, and the basis of the entire ecological chain is supported by microbial diversity. In these regions, understanding the microbial response against environmental factors and anthropogenic disturbances is essential to understand patterns better, prevent isolated events, and apply biotechnology strategies. The Antarctic continent has been increasingly affected by anthropogenic contamination, and its constant temperature fluctuations limit the application of clean recovery strategies, such as bioremediation. We evaluated the bacterial response in oil-contaminated soil through a nutrient-amended microcosm experiment using two temperature regimes: (i) 4 °C and (ii) a freeze–thaw cycle (FTC) alternating between −20 and 4 °C. Bacterial taxa, such as Myxococcales, Chitinophagaceae, and Acidimicrobiales, were strongly related to the FTC. Rhodococcus was positively related to contaminated soils and further stimulated under FTC conditions. Additionally, the nutrient-amended treatment under the FTC regime enhanced bacterial groups with known biodegradation potential and was efficient in removing hydrocarbons of diesel oil. The experimental design, rates of bacterial succession, and level of hydrocarbon transformation can be considered as a baseline for further studies aimed at improving bioremediation strategies in environments affected by FTC regimes. This research was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), and KAUST (BAS/1/1096-01-01).