Comparison of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Consortia from Surface and Deep Waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Characterization and Degradation Potential

The diversity and degradation capacity of hydrocarbon-degrading consortia from surface deep waters the Eastern Mediterranean Sea were studied in time-series experiments. Microcosms set up ONR7a medium at situ temperatures 25 °C 14 for Surface Deep consortia, respectively, crude oil as sole source carbon. consortium was additionally investigated to allow direct comparison rates consortium. In total, ~50% alkanes ~15% polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degraded all treatments by Day 24. Approximately ~95% total biodegradation took place within 6 days regardless temperature, whereas comparable levels reached on 12 Both dominated well-known taxa. Temperature played a significant role shaping communities with Pseudomonas Pseudoalteromonas dominating Alcanivorax °C. Overall, showed higher efficiency hydrocarbon first week following contamination, which is critical case spills, thus merits further investigation its exploitation bioremediation technologies tailored Sea.