Soil community microbiome reveals an abundance of specialised hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms and metabolic pathways following a chronic crude oil spill.

The impact of long-term crude oil pollution on soil microbial community structure in Ogoniland, Nigeria was investigated. Crude oil polluted and pristine soil samples were collected approximately from 0 - 30cm depth. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in the polluted and pristine soil was 7591 mg/kg and 199.70 mg/kg respectively, while the values of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in polluted soil constituting a higher concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons. Putative hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria was recovered through the culture-dependent method and screened for their degradative potential. Ninety-nine percent of the bacterial species screened for hydrocarbon degradation from the polluted soil were positive for hydrocarbon degradation. Total bacterial communities for both the polluted and pristine soil were determined using Illumina Mi-seq sequencing.