Bacterial diversity of sub-tropical coastal water exposed to oil and/or dispersants

The response of the microbial community in the northern Gulf of Mexico to oil and/or dispersants was measured in two separate mesocosm experiments. The diversity of the bacterial community was measured using 16S rRNA gene tags to determine how it responded to oil, dispersants and dispersed oil. Samples were collected at 0, 1 and 3 d and compared to the bacterial community in no addition controls and controls in which glucose was added.