In situ microbial degradation of Prudhoe Bay crude oil in Beaufort Sea sediments

This study examined the fate of Prudhoe Bay crude oil in nearshore sediments of the Beaufort Sea, in situ, with emphasis on the rôle of microorganisms in the weathering process. The results indicate that oil is degraded in Arctic sediments very slowly; only after 1 year's exposure was biodegradation evident. Several factors probably contributed to the slow rate of microbial weathering, including: limited populations of hydrocarbon utilising microorganisms; localised high oil concentrations; low temperatures; limiting nutrient concentrations (unfavourable C:N and C:P ratios); low oxygen tensions and limited circulation of interstitial waters in fine-grained sediments. Abiotic weathering of the oil was also slow, with limited loss of low molecular weight aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons during 2 years' exposure. Significant features of the overall weathering process were: lack of initial loss of low molecular weight compounds; aliphatic compounds were not preferentially degraded over aromatic compounds and C₁₇, and lower molecular weight normal alkanes were preferentially degraded over higher molecular weight alkanes. The results of this study indicate that hydrocarbons will persist relatively unaltered for several years if Beaufort Sea sediments are contaminated with petroleum.     

Degradation of lubricating oils by marine bacteria observed by quantitative mass spectrometry

Bacterial degradation of the hydrocarbons of lubricating oils was investigated by mass spectrometric analysis which gives both total amount and the composition of hydrocarbon types of residual oil. An unused lubricating oil, which mainly consisted of hydrocarbon types with only a small percentage ofn-alkanes, was degraded by marineBacillus sp. andPseudomonas sp. with 55 % and 25 % decreases in 10 days, respectively. Susceptibility of respective hydrocarbon types to biodegradation was in the following order: alkanes > non-condensed cycloalkanes, mono-aromatics > condensed cycloalkanes. A used lubricating oil of different brand showed a larger decrease than the unused oil. Both species of bacteria degraded large portions of alkane fraction of Arabian light crude oil.     

海洋石油降解菌剂在大连溢油污染岸滩修复中的应用研究

对海洋石油降解菌群DC10的降解特性进行了研究,研制了基于该菌群的降解菌剂,并用于大连实际溢油岸滩生物修复实验,考察了降解菌剂对潮间带和潮上带油污的降解作用,通过分析C17/藿烷、C18/藿烷及总烷烃和总芳烃的降解率来评价其降解效果。降解菌群DC10在实验室条件下对石油的降解率高于各组成菌株,一周时间的石油降解率比对照提高了60%左右,能降解大部分的烷烃和芳烃。以DC10冻干菌粉辅以营养盐溶液研制降解菌剂,该菌剂在大连岸滩油污生物修复试验中显示出显著的降解效果。在为期12 d的潮间带油污生物修复试验中,喷洒菌剂处理的C17/藿烷和C18/藿烷降解率相对于自然风化处理分别提高了40%和30%,而总烷烃和总芳烃降解率分别提高了80%和72%。在为期85 d的潮上带油污生物修复试验中,从C17/藿烷和C18/藿烷的降解率来看,喷洒菌剂处理对油污的降解程度仅略高于自然风化,但总烷烃和总芳烃的降解率分别提高了近30%和20%。     

Molecular and isotopic compositions of bitumens in Silurian tar sands from the Tarim Basin,NW China: Characterizing biodegradation and hydrocarbon charging in an old composite basin

Biodegradation and oil mixing in Silurian sandstone reservoirs of the Tarim Basin, one of the largest composite basins in China, were investigated by analyzing the molecular characteristics and stable carbon isotopic signatures of low-molecular-weight (LMW) saturated hydrocarbons and high-molecular-weight (HMW) asphaltenes. Detection of 25-norhopanes and 17-nortricyclic terpanes in most Silurian tar sands from the Tabei Uplift in the Tarim Basin suggests a much greater degree of biodegradation here than in the Tazhong Uplift. This explains the relatively more abundant tricyclic terpanes, gammacerane, pregnane and diasteranes in tar sands from the Tabei Uplift than in those from the Tazhong Uplift. Hence, care must be taken when assigning oil source correlations using biomarkers in tar sands because of the biodegradation and mixing of oils derived from multiple sources in such an old composite basin. Asphaltenes in the tar sands seem to be part of the oil charge before biodegradation, depending on the relative anti-biodegradation characteristics of asphaltenes, the similarity in carbon isotopic signatures for asphaltenes and their pyrolysates, and the consistent product distribution for flash pyrolysis and for regular steranes in asphaltene pyrolysates, regardless of whether the tar sands were charged with fresh oil. According to the relative distributions of regular steranes and the relatively abundant 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene significantly enriched in ¹³C, the oil sources for asphaltenes in the tar sands might be related to lower Paleozoic marine source rocks formed in euxinic conditions. Nevertheless, the relatively low abundance of gammacerane and C₂₈ regular steranes observed in asphaltene pyrolysates and residual hydrocarbons, within limited samples investigated in this work, made a direct correlation of oils originally charged into Silurian tar sands with those Cambrian source rocks, reported so far, seem not to be possible. Comparison of carbon isotopic signatures of n-alkanes in asphaltene pyrolysates with those of LMW saturated hydrocarbons is helpful in determining if the abundant n-alkanes in tar sands are derived from fresh oil charges after biodegradation. The limited carbon isotopic data for n-alkanes in LMW saturated hydrocarbons from the tar sands can be used to classify oils charged after biodegradation in the composite basin into four distinct groups.     

Degradation of crude oils byPseudomonas sp. in enriched seawater medium

Microbial degradation of five crude oils such as Arabian light, Berri, Murban, Khafji and Minas crude oil by a pure bacterial strain,Pseudomonas sp. isolated from the sea water sampled at Kawasaki Harbor in Tokyo Bay, was studied experimentally in the enriched seawater medium.The degradation of crude oils was determined in total residual oil and in four fractions of saturated, aromatics, asphaltene and column residue by use of the column chromatography with activated alumina.The saturated fraction was shown to be most biodegradable. The aromatics followed for all five crude oils examined and the asphaltene was biodegradable to some extent. The column residue was not apparently degraded byPseudomonas sp. within 30 days. Each of Arabian light, Berri or Murban crude oil was degraded from 59 to 63.5 %, Khafji crude oil 49 % and Minas crude oil, solid at room temperature, only 33 %. Degradation rate of the five crude oils was determined to be in a range from 2.88 to 17.3 mg-oil 1^–1 hr^–1 or from 6.0×10^–12 to 1.56×10^–10 mg-oil cell^–1 hr^–1. Relative degradation ofn-paraffins of different carbon numbers in the saturated fraction was found to be similar regardless of carbon number for the five crude oils.     

潮间带沉积物厌氧烃降解细菌的多样性及Desulfovibrio subterraneus ND17的分离鉴定

潮间带作为海陆交界处,易受到来自海洋的石油污染,且各类石油烃进入沉积物后的降解过程尚不清楚。前人在各类生境中对好氧微生物烃降解方面已有较多研究,但对近海潮间带环境中的厌氧烃降解鲜有报道。本研究对青岛女岛湾潮间带沉积物深层样品以混合烃（中长链烷烃、多环芳烃）为碳源,硫酸盐作为电子受体进行厌氧富集培养。富集菌群的细菌多样性表明在混合烃作为碳源的作用下,优势菌群转变为脱硫叠球菌科（Desulfosarcinaceae）、脱硫杆菌科（Desulfobacteraceae）等具有石油烃降解潜力的硫酸盐还原菌。经分离纯化得到一株厌氧烃降解菌ND17,与地下脱硫弧菌属模式种Desulfovibrio subterraneus HN2T 16S rRNA基因序列的相似度为99.93%。进一步实验表明,菌株ND17在厌氧条件下对二十四烷和菲的降解率可分别达到53.9%和35.7%。这也是首次对脱硫弧菌属单菌在厌氧条件下进行石油烃降解的研究。脱硫弧菌作为一种广泛分布在厌氧环境的细菌,本研究为进一步认识其在海洋石油污染环境中的修复潜力提供了支撑。     

Evidence of subsurface anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons and potential secondary methanogenesis in terrestrial mud volcanoes

The assessment of gas origin in mud volcanoes and related petroleum systems must consider post-genetic processes which may alter the original molecular and isotopic composition of reservoir gas. Beyond eventual molecular and isotopic fractionation due to gas migration and microbial oxidation, investigated in previous studies, we now demonstrate that mud volcanoes can show signals of anaerobic biodegradation of natural gas and oil in the subsurface. A large set of gas geochemical data from more than 150 terrestrial mud volcanoes worldwide has been examined. Due to the very low amount of C₂₊ in mud volcanoes, isotopic ratios of ethane, propane and butane (generally the best tracers of anaerobic biodegradation) are only available in a few cases. However, it is observed that ¹³C-enriched propane is always associated with positive δ¹³C_CO2 values, which are known indicators of secondary methanogenesis following anaerobic biodegradation of petroleum. Data from carbon isotopic ratio of CO₂ are available for 134 onshore mud volcanoes from 9 countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Turkmenistan, Trinidad, Italy, Japan and Taiwan). Exactly 50% of mud volcanoes, all releasing thermogenic or mixed methane, show at least one sample with δ¹³C_CO2 > +5‰ (PDB). Thermogenic CH₄ associated with positive carbon isotopic ratio of CO₂ generally maintains its δ¹³C-enriched signature, which is therefore not perturbed by the lighter secondary microbial gas. There is, however, high variability in the δ¹³C_CO2 values within the same mud volcanoes, so that positive δ¹³C_CO2 values can be found in some vents and not in others, or not continuously in the same vent. This can be due to high sensitivity of δ¹³C_CO2 to gas–water–rock interactions or to the presence of differently biodegraded seepage systems in the same mud volcano. However, finding a positive δ¹³C_CO2 value should be considered highly indicative of anaerobic biodegradation and further analyses should be made, especially if mud volcanoes are to be used as pathfinders of the conditions indicative of subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations in unexplored areas.     

Behaviour of no. 2 fuel oil in the water column of controlled ecosystems

Four experiments were carried out to determine the effect of different temperatures, light levels and biological activities on the residence times of petroleum hydrocarbons. No. 2 fuel oil was added as a seawater dispersion to give an initial concentration of 150 to 300 μg/litre in the water columns of large, outdoor marine microcosms. Hydrocarbons in water samples fractionated on passage through glass fibre filters (0·3 μm pore size) according to the solubilities, so that 80–90 % of the aromatics entered the filtrate while all of the saturates were trapped by the filter. The removal of oil compounds from the water columns was exponential, with rates which appeared to be determined chiefly by the temperature. The half life of total hydrocarbons varied from more than 10 days in March to ～30 h in July and September. Volatilisation was hypothesised to be an important removal mechanism for the 40–60% of the saturates which were not sedimented with suspended particulate matter. In warm water, the residence times of normal alkanes were increased up to 50 % by poisoning the water column, but no similar increase was noted for the bulk of the F₁ hydrocarbons. Aromatic (F₂) hydrocarbons appeared to be removed slowly volatilisation from cold water ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{> 200 h}$) and rapidly by biodegradation from warm water ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{< 40 h}$).     

The widespread occurrence of highly branched acyclic C20, C25 and C30 hydrocarbons in recent sediments and biota—A review

The occurrence of widely distributed acyclic isoprenoid hydrocarbons (C_2O, C₂₅ and C₃₀) with highly branched structures, in sediments and biota is reviewed. The compounds occur as alkanes and alkenes with from one to at least four double bonds in young aquatic (both marine and lacustrine) sediments from many parts of the globe (e.g. Peru, Antarctica, Gulf of Suez, North Sea, Atlantic) sometimes in high concentrations (e.g. 40 μg g⁻¹ sediment) relative to other hydrocarbons. However, the compounds rapidly disappear in older sediments, possibly due to biodegradation and reaction with sedimentary sulphur. These and other factors are discussed.The sources of this fascinating group of hydrocarbons remain largely unknown, though evidence points to algae (possibly diatoms) as one possibility. The recent identification of related sulphur-containing compounds in a crude oil promises to extend the number of reports of these compounds still further, and to increase their importance as environmental biological markers.     

潮间带污泥中厌氧发酵产氢混合菌群组成与 Fe-氢酶基因多样性分析

以采自天津海水浴场潮间带的污泥为研究材料,将污泥热休克处理后富集混合菌群进行厌氧发酵产氢,测定混合菌群在发酵过程中累积产氢量和相关产氢指标(吸光度、酸碱度和氧化还原电位)的变化。结果表明,热休克处理后富集的产氢混合菌群产氢量为0.41mol H2/mol葡萄糖。产氢结束后,利用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)分析混合菌群组成和Fe-氢酶基因的多样性。混合菌群基因组DNA的16S rRNAV3区扩增产物经过DGGE电泳分离,结果得到6条丰度比较高的条带,测序结果表明优势菌为Clostridium sp.。利用梭菌氢酶基因保守性引物克隆混合产氢菌群中梭菌Fe-氢酶基因,扩增产物经DGGE电泳分离,电泳结果表明混合菌群中Fe-氢酶基因分为3个分类单元,NCBI-BLAST比对结果与Clostridium roseum和Clostridium perfringens的Fe-氢酶基因相似度分别为79%和98%。分析产氢混合菌群组成和Fe-氢酶基因多样性,可以为扩大产氢微生物种质资源奠定基础。     

The effects of oil exploration and production in the northern North Sea: Part 2—microbial biodegradation of hydrocarbons in water and sediments, 1978–1981

The potential of heterotrophs to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons derived from oil in water and sediments in the northern North Sea around the Brent, Beryl, Forties and Murchison oilfields and at a number of stations, from the Forties field to the Firth of Forth, was estimated using 1-¹⁴C naphthalene and 7, 10-¹⁴C benzo(a)pyrene. The degradation of uniformly labelled ¹⁴C mixed 1-amino acids was used as a measure of total heterotrophic activity. Results showed that microorganisms have the potential to degrade the smaller aromatic hydrocarbon molecules rapidly in the water column and in surface sediments. Close to the Beryl platform, where diesel-washed drill cuttings have been continuously dumped, the rate of input of hydrocarbons to the sediment has exceeded the rate of degradation. Mineralization of benzo(a)pyrene, estimated in the sediments only, was minimal. Close to production platforms the biodegradation rate of mixed 1-amino acids showed no increase comparable with that found for naphthalene, suggesting that existing microbial populations had not increased but adapted to degrade oil in water and sediments.     

Dimethylsulfide production in Sargasso Sea eddies

Lagrangian time series of dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentrations from a cyclonic and an anticyclonic eddy in the Sargasso Sea were used in conjunction with measured DMS loss rates and a model of vertical mixing to estimate gross DMS production in the upper 60 m during summer 2004. Loss terms included biological consumption, photolysis, and ventilation to the atmosphere. The time- and depth (0–60 m)-averaged gross DMS production was estimated to be 0.73±0.09 nM d⁻¹ in the cyclonic eddy and 0.90±0.15 nM d⁻¹ in the anticyclonic eddy, with respective DMS replacement times of 5±1 and 6±1 d. The higher estimated rate of gross production and lower measured loss rate constants in the anticyclonic eddy were equally responsible for this eddy's 50% higher DMS inventory (0–60 m). When normalized to chlorophyll and total dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), estimated gross production in the anticyclonic eddy was about twice that in the cyclonic eddy, consistent with the greater fraction of phytoplankton that were DMSP producers in the anticyclonic eddy. Higher rates of gross production were estimated below the mixed layer, contributing to the subsurface DMS maximum found in both eddies. In both eddies, gas exchange, microbial consumption, and photolysis were roughly equal DMS loss terms in the surface mixed layer (0.2–0.4 nM d⁻¹). Vertical mixing was a substantial source of DMS to the surface mixed layer in both eddies (0.2–0.3 nM d⁻¹) owing to the relatively high DMS concentrations below the mixed layer. Estimated net biological DMS production rates (gross production minus microbial consumption) in the mixed layer were substantially lower (by almost a factor of 3) than those estimated in a previous study of the Sargasso Sea, which may explain the relatively low mixed-layer DMS concentrations found here during July 2004 (3 nM) compared to previous summers (4–6 nM).     

Organic matter characterization in a tropical estuarine-mangrove ecosystem of India: Preliminary assessment by using stable isotopes and lignin phenols

In order to characterize the sources and fate of organic matter (OM) in the Pichavaram estuarine-mangrove ecosystem (east coast of India), stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) ratios and molecular lignin analyses were conducted in plant litter, benthic algae, sediment, particulate matter and in a variety of benthic invertebrate species. The δ¹³C signature of plant litter ranges from −29.75‰ to −27.64‰ suggesting that mangrove trees follow the C₃ photosynthetic pathway. Sedimentary δ¹³C signature (−28.92‰ to −25.34‰) demonstrates the greater influence of plant litter organic matter on sedimentary organic matter. Suspended particulate organic pool was influenced by terrestrial source and also seems to be influenced by the marine phytoplankton. Enriched signature of δ¹⁵N in surface sediments (4.66–8.01‰; avg. 6.69‰) suggesting the influence of anthropogenic nitrogen from agricultural fields and human settlements. Spatial chemical variability in availability of nitrogen and plant associated microbial interactions demonstrate variability in δ¹⁵N signature in mangrove plant litter. Two (lower and higher) trophic levels of invertebrates were identified with and observed >4‰ gradient in δ¹³C signal between these two trophic groups. The observed δ¹³C values suggest that the lower level invertebrates feed on phytoplankton and higher level organisms have a mixed source of diet, phytoplankton, sediment and particulate organic matter. Lignin phenol analyses explain that the benthic surface layer was almost free of lignin. The ratio between syringyl phenols to vanillyl phenols (S/V) is 1.14–1.32 (avg. 1.23) and cinnamyl phenols to vanillyl phenols (C/V) is 0.17–0.31 (avg. 0.24), demonstrate non-woody angiosperm tissues was the major sources of lignin to this ecosystem, while aldehyde to acid ratios (Ad/Al) describe diagenetic nature of sediment and is moderately to less degraded. A two-end-member mixing model indicate that the terrigenous OM was dominant in the estuarine zones, while in the mangrove zone terrigenous supply accounts for 60% and marine input accounts for 40%.     

化学消油剂对原油乳化及微生物降解的影响

化学消油剂的使用已成为国内外海洋溢油事故应急处理的重要措施之一。本文分别从光明化学消油剂GM-8的用量、油水比及环境pH等方面,对正十四烷及原油乳化效果进行分析。结果表明, GM-8对正十四烷及原油的乳化效果较好,当化学消油剂的用量为原油的5%时,正十四烷及原油的乳化指数较高。在消油剂与原油用量比为一定值时,原油的乳化效果与海水的量几乎没有关系。环境pH对GM-8乳化原油的影响不大,乳化后的原油可以在海洋环境中稳定7 d以上。GM-8对原油的微生物降解有一定的增强作用。N/P、环境的pH以及微生物的接种量等均对乳化原油的生物降解有较大的影响。当微生物的接种量由培养基的1%增加到10%时,乳化原油的微生物降解率增加了一倍以上,达到91.6%。     

The northernmost coral frontier of the Maldives: The coral reefs of Ihavandippolu Atoll under long-term environmental change

Ihavandippolu, the northernmost atoll of the Maldives, experienced severe coral bleaching and mortality in 1998 followed by several bleaching episodes in the last decade. Coral cover in the 11 study sites surveyed in July–December of 2011 in the 3–5 m depth range varied from 1.7 to 51%. Reefs of the islands located in the center of Ihavandippolu lagoon have exhibited a very low coral recovery since 1998 and remain mostly degraded 12 years after the impact. At the same time, some reefs, especially in the inner part of the eastern ring of the atoll, demonstrate a high coral cover (>40%) with a dominance of branching Acropora that is known to be one of the coral genera that is most susceptible to thermal stress. The last severe bleaching event in 2010 resulted in high coral mortality in some sites of the atoll. Differences in coral mortality rates and proportion between “susceptible” and “resistant” taxa in study sites are apparently related to long-term adaptation and local hydrological features that can mitigate thermal impacts. Abundant herbivorous fish observed in the atoll prevent coral overgrowth by macroalgae even on degraded reefs. Despite the frequent influence of temperature anomalies and having less geomorphologic refuges for coral survivals than other larger Maldivian atolls, a major part of observed coral communities in Ihavandippolu Atoll exhibits high resilience and potential for further acclimatization to a changing environment.     

Crude oil bioremediation in sub-Antarctic intertidal sediments: chemistry and toxicity of oiled residues

The effectiveness of fertilizers for crude oil bioremediation in sub-Antarctic intertidal sediments was tested over a one-year period in a series of ten (10) experimental enclosures. Chemical, microbial and toxicological parameters demonstrated the effectiveness of various fertilizers in a pristine environment where hydrocarbon degrading bacteria (HDB) had not been stimulated by previous accidental spills or human activities. The low temperature of seawater (3-4 degrees C) had no obvious effects on the HDB community and the bioremediation process. Over 90% of n-alkanes were degraded in the first six months and most light aromatics (2-3 rings) disappeared during the first year of observation. The toxicity of oiled residues (Microtox(R) SP) was significantly reduced in the first 6 months of the process, but it increased again in the last months of the experiment. One of the fertilizers containing fishbone compost enriched with urea, inorganic phosphorus and a lipidic surfactant reduced significantly the toxicity of oil residues in the last 3 months of the experiment. Interstitial waters collected below the oil slicks during the remediation showed no toxicity, and even stimulated Vibrio fischeri. When comparing all fertilizers to the control plots, a good correlation (r(2)=0.82) was found between the growth rate of HDB and the degradation rate of n-alkanes in the first 90 days of the experiment only indicating that fertilizers were efficient for at least 3 months but their beneficial effects were lost after 6 months.     

Relationship between hydrocarbons and bacterial activity in mediterranean sediments: Part 2—hydrocarbon degrading activity of bacteria from sediments

In marine sediments from the Mediterranean coast polluted by oil spills (Etang de Berre) high bacterial activity is responsible for self-purification, samples collected from these areas showing a bacterial density several orders of magnitude higher than samples from non-polluted areas (Isle des Embiez). Between 60 and 80 % of the heterotrophic bacteria in the polluted areas are hydrocarbon-degrading, compared with 0.01 % in the non-polluted area.Several strains of hydrocarbon utilisers were isolated, a mixture of strains from each biotope was taken to represent a ‘biotope population’ and their activity towards different types of hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, iso-alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatics) was determined.With ammonia as the nitrogen source the ‘biotope population’ from the polluted area degraded hydrocarbons much more readily than the ‘biotope population’ from the non-polluted area. With nitrate as the nitrogen source the degradation was much reduced, and, for some hydrocarbons, ceased in both ‘populations’.Individual hydrocarbons encouraged the growth of individual strains in the ‘biotope population’. In natural mixtures of hydrocarbons all strains grew well and degraded aliphatics. There was a good correlation between the respiratory activity of the ‘biotope population’ and the ability of the ‘population’ to utilise hydrocarbons for growth.     

起始pH值对海洋混合菌群产氢量的影响

对采自天津潮间带的污泥进行热休克处理,厌氧条件下富集混合菌群进行产氢试验;设置起始pH从4．0到8．0（间隔0．5个单位）,比较混合菌群在不同pH培养条件下产氢量;利用变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）分析不同起始pH培养条件下的混合菌群组成。结果表明,在起始pH为7．0时,混合菌群产氢量最高。不同起始pH对产氢量的影响,依...     

Seasonal DOC accumulation in the Black Sea: a regional explanation for a general mechanism

During three cruises in the Black Sea, organised in July 1995 and April–May 1997, biological and chemical parameters that can influence the carbon budget were measured in the water column on the NW shelf, particularly in the mixing zone with Danube River waters. We observed in early spring (end of April–May) conditions an important input of freshwater organisms that enhanced the microbial activity in the low salinity range. High bacterial activity regenerates nitrogen in the form of nitrates, but is also responsible for an important consumption of ammonium and phosphate, leading to a high N/P ratio and a strong deficit in phosphorus. The consequence is a limitation of phytoplankton development but also a production of carbohydrates that accumulate all along the salinity gradient. These mechanisms are responsible for a seasonal accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that increases from 210 μM in winter to about 280 μM in summer. All this excess DOC disappears during winter, probably degraded by bacterial activity. The degradation of carbon-rich organic matter increases the phosphorus demand by bacteria bringing limitation to phytoplankton primary production.     

Hydrocarbons in the Surface Layer of Bottom Sediments in the Northwestern Caspian Sea

The paper presents research results on the concentrations and compositions of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface layer of bottom sediments in the Northwestern Caspian Sea (2014) and compares them to data for sediments of the Middle and Southern Caspian (2012–2013). The seepage of hydrocarbons out of the sediment mass, resulting in abnormally high concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons per dry weight (up to 468 μg/g), as well as within the C_org composition (up to 35.2%), is considered the main source of hydrocarbons in sediments in the surveyed area of the Northern Caspian. This is also confirmed by the absence of any correlation between the hydrocarbon and C_org distributions, as well as by the transformed oil composition of high-molecular alkanes. The distribution of markers within polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons points to a mixed genesis—petrogenic and pyrogenic—with prevalence of the latter. Unlike the shallow-water northern part of the Caspian Sea, the content and composition of hydrocarbons in deep-seated sediments are affected by facial conditions of sedimentation and by matter exchange at the water–bottom interface. Therefore, despite high C_org concentrations (up to 9.9%), sediments in deep-water depressions are characterized by a quite low concentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons (52 μg/g on average; 0.2% of C_org) with prevailing natural allochthonous alkanes.