New oil-eating bacteria found beneath the Mariana Trench
- 5 years ago
MARIANA TRENCH — Micro-organisms that consume oil were found in the southern end of the Mariana Trench, according to a new study published in the journal Microbiome.
Bacteria such as Oleibacter, Thalassolituss and Alcanivorax genera, were found in the depths of Challenger Deep.
These bacteria are known to consume hydrocarbon molecules and are commonly found in crude oil and natural gas.
The researchers analyzed samples of seawater taken from the surface of the trench and all the way down a column of water to the bottom of the trench, according to a University of East Anglia news release.
The scientists found that the oil-consuming bacteria were in abundance at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
According to the researchers, these unique bacteria could one day be used to clean up oil spills on the surface of the ocean.
The scientists also found hydrocarbons being produced at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, according to the news release.
Dr David Lea-Smith explained in the news release that the hydrocarbons could help the oil-eating microbes survive the "crushing pressure" at the bottom of the trench as well as serve as a food source.
Bacteria such as Oleibacter, Thalassolituss and Alcanivorax genera, were found in the depths of Challenger Deep.
These bacteria are known to consume hydrocarbon molecules and are commonly found in crude oil and natural gas.
The researchers analyzed samples of seawater taken from the surface of the trench and all the way down a column of water to the bottom of the trench, according to a University of East Anglia news release.
The scientists found that the oil-consuming bacteria were in abundance at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
According to the researchers, these unique bacteria could one day be used to clean up oil spills on the surface of the ocean.
The scientists also found hydrocarbons being produced at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, according to the news release.
Dr David Lea-Smith explained in the news release that the hydrocarbons could help the oil-eating microbes survive the "crushing pressure" at the bottom of the trench as well as serve as a food source.