Psychrotrophic Hydrocarbon-Oxidizing Bacteria Isolated from Bottom Sediments of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Five strains of psychrotrophic hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from the bottom sediments of Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan. They were classified into the following species: Rhodococcus erythropolis, Rhodococcus sp., Sphingomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Alcanivorax sp. All studied bacteria showed high oxidizing ability in relation to the decomposition of n-alkanes (C9-C27), phytane, pristane, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 5 and 22 degrees C. At the same time, the degradation of hydrocarbons was more intense at 5 degrees C. Despite the different taxonomic affiliations of the obtained microorganisms, all strains primarily utilized short- (C9-C13) and long-chain (C21-27) alkanes, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The highest hydrocarbon-oxidizing activity was shown by the strain Rhodococcus erythropolis AP_291. The latter utilized more than 50% of all hydrocarbons in the model mixture during the first week of the experiment at 5 degrees C.

Automated summary

Five strains of psychrotrophic hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from the bottom sediments of Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan. They exhibited high oxidizing ability for various hydrocarbon compounds, with more intense degradation at 5 degrees Celsius.