Rates of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in Gulf of Mexico sandy sediments and its enhancement by organic substrates

The rates of crude oil degradation by the extant microorganisms in intertidal sediments from a northern Gulf of Mexico beach were determined. The enhancement in crude oil degradation by amending the microbial communities with marine organic matter was also examined. Replicate mesocosm treatments consisted of: (i) controls (intertidal sand), (ii) sand contaminated with crude oil, (iii) sand plus organic matter, and (iv) sand plus crude oil and organic matter. Carbon dioxide (CO2) production was measured daily for 42 days and the carbon isotopic ratio of CO2 (13CO2) was used to determine the fraction of CO2 derived from microbial respiration of crude oil. Data set includes CO2 production rates, nutrient concentrations at the end of the 42 day experiment, δ13C of respired CO2, TPH concentrations at the end of 42 day experiment, as well as hydrocarbon degrader microbial numbers at the site and in the mesocosms after 42 days of exposure to crude oil.