Hydrocarbon biodegradation potential of microbial communities from high Arctic beaches in Canada's Northwest Passage

Madison Ellis; Ianina Altshuler; Lars Schreiber; Ya-Jou Chen; Mira Okshevsky; Kenneth Lee; Charles W Greer; Lyle G Whyte

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113288

Hydrocarbon biodegradation potential of microbial communities from high Arctic beaches in Canada's Northwest Passage

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Jan:174:113288. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113288. Epub 2022 Jan 5.

Authors

Madison Ellis¹, Ianina Altshuler², Lars Schreiber³, Ya-Jou Chen⁴, Mira Okshevsky⁵, Kenneth Lee⁶, Charles W Greer⁷, Lyle G Whyte⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: madison.ellis@mail.mcgill.ca.
² Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada; Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, Ås, Norway.
³ Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Quebec, Canada.
⁴ Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
⁵ Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada; Department of Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Quebec, Canada.
⁶ Ecosystem Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
⁷ Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada; Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Quebec, Canada.

PMID: 35090274
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113288

Abstract

Sea ice loss is opening shipping routes in Canada's Northwest Passage, increasing the risk of an oil spill. Harnessing the capabilities of endemic microorganisms to degrade oil may be an effective remediation strategy for contaminated shorelines; however, limited data exists along Canada's Northwest Passage. In this study, hydrocarbon biodegradation potential of microbial communities from eight high Arctic beaches was assessed. Across high Arctic beaches, community composition was distinct, potential hydrocarbon-degrading genera were detected and microbial communities were able to degrade hydrocarbons (hexadecane, naphthalene, and alkanes) at low temperature (4 °C). Hexadecane and naphthalene biodegradation were stimulated by nutrients, but nutrients had little effect on Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil biodegradation. Oiled microcosms showed a significant enrichment of Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus. Nutrient-amended microcosms showed increased abundances of key hydrocarbon biodegradation genes (alkB and CYP153). Ultimately, this work provides insight into hydrocarbon biodegradation on Arctic shorelines and oil-spill remediation in Canada's Northwest Passage.

Keywords: Arctic beaches; Bioremediation; Hydrocarbon biodegradation; Microbial communities; Northwest Passage; Ultra low sulfur fuel oil.

MeSH terms

Bacteria / genetics
Canada
Hydrocarbons
Microbiota*
Petroleum*

Substances

Hydrocarbons
Petroleum