Spatial variations of hydrocarbon contamination and soil properties in oil exploring fields across China

Spatial Distribution, Sources, Air-Soil Exchange, and Health Risks of Parent PAHs and Derivative-Alkylated PAHs in Different Functional Areas of an Oilfield Area in the Yellow River Delta, North China

The knowledge of the spatial distribution, sources, and air-soil exchange of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in an oilfield area is essential to the development of effective control practices of PAC pollution. In this study, 48 passive air samples and 24 soil samples were collected during 2018-2019 in seven functional areas (e.g., urban, oil field, suburban, industrial, agricultural, near pump units, and background) in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) where the Shengli Oilfield is located, and 18 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and five alkylated-PAHs (APAHs) were analyzed from all the air and soil samples. The ΣPAHs in the air and soil ranged from 2.26 to 135.83 ng/m³ and 33.96 to 408.94 ng/g, while the ΣAPAHs in the atmosphere and soil ranged from 0.04 to 16.31 ng/m³ and 6.39 to 211.86 ng/g, respectively. There was a downward trend of atmospheric ΣPAH concentrations with increasing the distance from the urban area, while both ΣPAH and ΣAPAH concentrations in the soil decreased with distance from the oilfield area. PMF analyses show that for atmospheric PACs, coal/biomass combustion was the main contributor in urban, suburban, and agricultural areas, while crude production and processing source contributes more in the industrial and oilfield area. For PACs in soil, densely populated areas (industrial, urban, and suburban) are more affected by traffic sources, while oilfield and near-pump unit areas are under the impact of oil spills. The fugacity fraction (ff) results indicated that the soil generally emitted low-molecular-weight PAHs and APAHs and act as a sink for high-molecular-weight PAHs. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of Σ(PAH+APAH) in both the air and soil, were below the threshold (≤10^-6) set by the US EPA.

Microbial community composition and degradation potential of petroleum-contaminated sites under heavy metal stress

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (n-alkanes), semi-volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals pose major ecological risks at petrochemical-contaminated sites. The efficiency of natural remediation in situ is often unsatisfactory, particularly under heavy metal pollution stress. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that after long-term contamination and restoration, microbial communities in situ exhibit significantly different biodegradation efficiencies under different concentrations of heavy metals. Moreover, they determine the appropriate microbial community to restore the contaminated soil. Therefore, we investigated the heavy metals in petroleum-contaminated soils and observed that heavy metals effects on distinct ecological clusters varied significantly. Finally, alterations in the native microbial community degradation ability were demonstrated through the occurrence of petroleum pollutant degradation function genes in different communities at the tested sites. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explain the influence of all factors on the degradation function of petroleum pollution. These results suggest that heavy metal contamination from petroleum-contaminated sites reduces the efficiency of natural remediation. In addition, it infers that MOD1 microorganisms have greater degradation potential under heavy metal stress. Utilizing appropriate microorganisms in situ may effectively help resist the stress of heavy metals and continuously degrade petroleum pollutants.

Distribution of the new functional marker gene (pahE) of aerobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) degrading bacteria in different ecosystems

Understanding the degradation potentials in PAHs-contaminated sites is significant for formulating effective bioremediation strategies. pahE encoding PAHs hydratase-aldolase has been proven as a better new functional marker gene of aerobic PAHs-degrading bacteria to assess the biodegradation potential of indigenous PAHs-degrading bacterial population. However, the distribution of pahE and its relationship with environmental factors remain unknown. The present study observed spatial variations in the diversity and abundance of pahE across oilfield soils, mangrove sediments, and urban roadside soils. nahE from Pseudomonas, bphE from Hyphomonas oceanitis, nagE from Comamonas testosterone, and novel pahE genes were widely present in these PAHs-polluted ecosystems. The abundance of pahE in PAHs-contaminated sites was in the range of 10⁵-10⁶ copies·g^-1 (dry weight). Redundancy analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis implied that the distribution of pahE in the PAHs-contaminated environment was mainly shaped by environmental factors such as PAHs pollution level, nutrient level, salinity, and water content. This work was the first to explore the distribution of the new functional marker gene (pahE) and its links with environmental parameters, which provided new insights into the ecophysiology and distribution of indigenous aerobic PAHs-degrading bacteria in contaminated sites.

Novel Insights into the Influence of Soil Microstructure Characteristics on the Migration and Residue of Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid

Understanding the influence of soil microstructure on light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) behavior is critical for predicting the formation of residual LNAPLs under spill condition. However, the roles of soil particle and pore on LNAPLs migration and residue remains unclear. Here, the experiment simulated an LNAPLs (diesel) spill that was performed in fourteen types of soils, and the key factors affecting diesel behavior are revealed. There were significant differences between fourteen types of soils, with regard to the soil particle, soil pore, and diesel migration and residue. After 72 h of leakage, the migration distance of diesel ranged from 3.42 cm to 8.82 cm in the soils. Except for sandy soil, diesel was mainly distributed in the 0−3 cm soil layer, and the residual amounts were 7.85−26.66 g/kg. It was further confirmed from microstructure that the consistency of soil particle and volume of soil macropores (0.05−7.5 μm) are important for diesel residue in the 0−1 cm soil layer and migration distance. The large soil particles corresponding to 90% of volume fraction and volume of soil mesopores (<0.05 μm) are key factors affecting diesel residue in the 1−3 cm soil layer. The result helps to further comprehend the formation mechanism of residual LNAPLs in the soil.

Fingerprint analysis reveals sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils of different geographical oilfields of China and its ecological assessment

The distribution and characteristics of petroleum in three different geographic oilfields in China: Shengli Oilfield (SL), Nanyang Oilfield (NY), and Yanchang Oilfield (YC) were investigated. The average concentration of the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) conformed to be in the following law: SL Oilfield > NY Oilfield > YC Oilfield. Fingerprint analysis on the petroleum contamination level and source was conducted by the geochemical indices of n-alkanes and PAHs, such as low to high molecular weight (LMW/HMW) hydrocarbons, n-alkanes/pristine or phytane (C17/ Pr, C18/Ph), and ratio of anthracene/ (anthracene + phenanthrene) [Ant/(Ant + Phe)]. Soils adjacent to working well oils indicated new petroleum input with higher ratio of low to high molecular weight (LMW/HMW) hydrocarbons. The oil contamination occurred in the grassland soils might result of rainfall runoff. Petroleum source, petroleum combustion source, and biomass combustion were dominant PAHs origination of soils collected from oil exploitation area, petrochemical-related sites, farmland and grassland, respectively. The suggestive petroleum control strategies were proposed in each oilfield soils. Ecological potential risk of PAHs was assessed according to the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) of seven carcinogenic PAHs. The results showed that high, medium, and low ecological risk presented in petro-related area, grassland soils, and farmland soils, respectively. High ecological risk was persistent in abandoned oil well areas over abandoned time of 15 years, and basically stable after 5 years. This study can provide a critical insight to ecological risk management and source control of the petroleum contamination.

Integration of chemical and biological methods: A case study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution monitoring in Shandong Peninsula, China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as persistent toxic substances (PTS), have been widely monitored in coastal environment, including seawater and sediment. However, scientific monitoring methods, like ecological risk assessment and integrated biomarker response, still need massive researches to verify their availabilities. This study was performed in March, May, August and October of 2018 at eight sites, Yellow River estuary (S1), Guangli Port (S2), Xiaying (S3), Laizhou (S4), Inner Bay (S5), Outer Bay (S6), Hongdao (S7) and Hongshiya (S8) of Shandong Peninsula, China. The contents of 16 priority PAHs in local seawater and sediment were determined, by which ecological risk assessment risk quotient (RQ) for seawater and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were calculated to characterize the PAHs pollution. Meanwhile, multiple biomarkers in the digestive gland of clam Ruditapes philippinarum were measured to represent different biological endpoints, including ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), sulfotransferase (SULT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO), by which integrated biomarker response (IBR) was calculated to provide a comprehensive assessment of environmental quality. Taken together, these results revealed the heaviest pollution at S2 as both PAHs concentrations and biomarkers responses reflected, and supported the integrated biomarker response as a useful tool for marine environmental monitoring, through its integration with SQGs.

The diversity of alkane-degrading bacterial communities in seagrass ecosystem of the South China Sea

Seagrass meadows are one of the most important marine ecosystems. Alkanes are the common hydrocarbon contaminants that can affect seagrass growth. In this study, a large spatial-scale investigation has been carried out on the alkane-degrading bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere sediments of two seagrass species (Thalassia hemprichii and Halophila ovalis). AlkB gene was employed as a biomarker gene to study the alkane-degrading bacterial community structure. The results showed that the alpha diversity of the alkane-degrading bacterial community in T. hemprichii non-rhizosphere sediments was higher than that of its rhizosphere sediments. However, the alpha diversity of the alkane-degrading bacterial community in H. ovalis rhizosphere sediments was higher than that of its non-rhizosphere sediments in the open sea, but the result was contrast in the coast area. In addition, the alpha diversity of alkane-degrading bacterial communities in the coast area was higher than that of far away from the coast in the T. hemprichii rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere sediments. The phylogenetic analysis result revealed that the alkB sequences from the seagrass ecosystem were mainly affiliated with the class Alphaproteobacteria, and had the two novel lineages. Genus Agrobacterium was the most predominant alkane-degrading bacteria. These results contributed to disclose the geographical distribution pattern of alkane-degrading bacteria in the seagrass ecosystem of the South China Sea.

A Preliminary Study on Lupinus albus and Raphanus sativus Grown in Soil Affected by Oil Spillage

Oil spills from pipelines are a hazardous contamination source for agricultural soils. We investigated the effects of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) soil contamination, resulting from a real diesel oil pipeline spill, on the growth of Lupinus albus and Raphanus sativus plants. These species are widely cultivated for food purposes and have not been previously tested in soils affected by oil spills. Mesocosm-scale experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, and the potential transfer of hydrocarbons from soil to plant was evaluated. The results indicated that hydrocarbons in soil altered the soil nutrient balance and adversely affected plant growth. The C > 12 content in the aerial part was lower in plants grown in the contaminated soil than in plants grown in the control soil. The reduction in plant growth was not related to the accumulation of hydrocarbons in plant tissue, but rather to the deterioration in soil quality due to the oil spill.

Petroleum contamination significantly changes soil microbial communities in three oilfield locations in Delta State, Nigeria

Soil microbial community structure is altered by petroleum contamination in response to compound toxicity and degradation. Understanding the relation between petroleum contamination and soil microbial community structure is crucial to determine the amenability of contaminated soils to bacterial- and fungal-aided remediation. To understand how petroleum contamination and soil physicochemical properties jointly shaped the microbial structure of soils from different oilfields, high-throughput sequencing of 16S and ITS amplicons were used to evaluate the shifts of microbial communities in the petroleum-contaminated soils in Ughelli East (UE), Utorogu (UT), and Ughelli West (UW) oilfields located in Delta State, Nigeria. The results showed 1515 bacteria and 919 fungal average OTU number, and community richness and diversity, trending as AL > UT > UW > UE and AL > UW > UT > UE for bacteria, and AL > UW > UT > UE and UW > UT > AL > UE for fungi, respectively. The bacterial taxa KCM-B-112, unclassified Saccharibacteria, unclassified Rhizobiales, Desulfurellaceae, and Acidobacteriaceae and fungal Trichocomaceae, unclassified Ascomycota, unclassified Sporidiobolales, and unclassified Fungi were found to be the dominant families in petroleum-contaminated soils. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that total carbon (TC), electric conductivity (EC), pH, and moisture content (MO) were the major drivers of bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS) analysis exhibited that the differences in C₇-C₁₀, C₁₁-C₁₆, and C₁₂-C₂₉ compounds in the crude oil composition and soil MO content jointly constituted the microbial community variance among the contaminated soils. This study revealed the bacterial and fungal communities responsible for the biodegradation of petroleum contamination from these oilfields, which could serve as biomarkers to monitor oil spill site restoration within these areas. Further studies on these contaminated sites could offer useful insights into other contributing factors such as heavy metals.

History of petroleum disturbance triggering the depth-resolved assembly process of microbial communities in the vadose zone

Biogeochemical gradient forms in vadose zone, yet little is known about the assembly processes of microbial communities in this zone under petroleum disturbance. This study collected vadose zone soils at three sites with 0, 5, and 30 years of petroleum contamination to unravel the vertical microbial community successions and their assembly mechanisms. The results showed that petroleum hydrocarbons exhibited higher concentrations at the long-term contaminated site, showing negative impacts on some soil properties, retarding in the surface soils and decreasing along soil depth. Cultivable fraction of heterotrophic bacteria and microbial α-diversity decreased along depth in vadose zones with short-term/no contamination history, but exhibited an opposite trend with long-term contamination history. Petroleum contamination intensified the vertical heterogeneity of microbial communities based on the contamination time. Microbial co-occurrence network revealed the lowest species co-occurrence pattern at the long-term contaminated site. The distance-decay patterns and null model analysis together suggested distinct assembly mechanisms at three sites, where dispersal limitation (42-45%) was higher and variable and homogenizing selections were lower (37-38%) in vadose zones under petroleum disturbance than those in the uncontaminated vadose zone. Our findings help to better understand the subsurface biogeochemical cycles and bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated vadose zones.

Effects of soil properties on the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil by Triton X-100-aided washing

Although nonionic surfactant is widely used for petroleum-contaminated soil washing, there is no definite conclusion on the main soil factors which determine the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from the soil. In this study, the influences of soil properties on Triton X-100-aided soil washing were investigated using 12 soils in China. The sorption characteristic of Triton X-100 on soils was described as well. The sorption isotherms of Triton X-100 on 12 typical soils were fitted to the Langmuir adsorption model, and the maximum sorption amount of Triton X-100 (Q_max) varied from 1.54 to 15.15 mg/g. The removal rates of diesel for 12 soils were well fitted to the modified Michaelis-Menten equation, and the maximum removal rate of diesel (φ_max) ranged from 62.92 to 90.36%. The correlation analysis indicated that the φ_max is significantly correlated with the Q_max. The soil factors affecting diesel removal from soils followed the order of sand content > cation exchange capacity (CEC) > organic matter (OM) content > silt and clay content > SSA >> pH. The prediction model based on CEC, silt content, and pH explained 83.1% of variance of diesel removal from soils. This study will have important implication for successfully remediating organic-contaminated soil using nonionic surfactant-based soil washing.

Combining stable carbon isotope analysis and petroleum-fingerprinting to evaluate petroleum contamination in the Yanchang oilfield located on loess plateau in China

This study evaluated petroleum contamination in the Yanchang (Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd.) oilfield, located in the loess plateau region of northern Shaanxi, China. Surface soil and sediment samples were collected from the wasteland, farmland, and riverbed in this area to assess the following parameters: total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C). The results showed that TPH and PAH levels in the study area were 907-3447 mg/kg and 103.59-563.50 μg/kg, respectively, significantly higher than the control samples (TPH 224 mg/kg, PAHs below method quantification limit, MQL). Tests using δ¹³C to detect modified TPH (2238.66 to 6639.42 mg/kg) in the wastelands adjacent to the oil wells revealed more significant contamination than tests using extraction gravimetric analysis. In addition, "chemical fingerprint" indicators, such as low to high molecular weight (LMW/HMW) hydrocarbons, carbon preference index (CPI), and pristine/phytane (Pr/Ph), further confirmed the presence of heavy petroleum contamination and weathering. This has resulted in a nutrient imbalance and unsuitable pH and moisture conditions for microbial metabolic activities. This study evaluates petroleum contamination, which can inform contamination remediation on a case by case basis.

Characterization of Crude Oil Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Contaminated Soils Surrounding Gas Stations

A total of twenty bacterial cultures were isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Of the 20 isolates, RAM03, RAM06, RAM13, and RAM17 were specifically chosen based on their relatively higher growth on salt medium amended with 4 % crude oil, emulsion index, surface tension, and degradation percentage. These bacterial cultures had 16S rRNA gene sequences that were most similar to Ochrobactrum cytisi (RAM03), Ochrobactrum anthropi (RAM06 and RAM17), and Sinorhizobium meliloti (RAM13) with 96 %, 100 % and 99 %, and 99 % similarity. The tested strains revealed a promising potential for bioremediation of petroleum oil contamination as they could degrade >93 % and 54 % of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in a liquid medium and soil amended with 4 % crude oil, respectively, after 30 day incubation. These bacteria could effectively remove both aliphatic and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons. In conclusion, these strains could be considered as good prospects for their application in bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated environment.

Long-Term Oil Contamination Alters the Molecular Ecological Networks of Soil Microbial Functional Genes

With knowledge on microbial composition and diversity, investigation of within-community interactions is a further step to elucidate microbial ecological functions, such as the biodegradation of hazardous contaminants. In this work, microbial functional molecular ecological networks were studied in both contaminated and uncontaminated soils to determine the possible influences of oil contamination on microbial interactions and potential functions. Soil samples were obtained from an oil-exploring site located in South China, and the microbial functional genes were analyzed with GeoChip, a high-throughput functional microarray. By building random networks based on null model, we demonstrated that overall network structures and properties were significantly different between contaminated and uncontaminated soils (P < 0.001). Network connectivity, module numbers, and modularity were all reduced with contamination. Moreover, the topological roles of the genes (module hub and connectors) were altered with oil contamination. Subnetworks of genes involved in alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation were also constructed. Negative co-occurrence patterns prevailed among functional genes, thereby indicating probable competition relationships. The potential "keystone" genes, defined as either "hubs" or genes with highest connectivities in the network, were further identified. The network constructed in this study predicted the potential effects of anthropogenic contamination on microbial community co-occurrence interactions.

Long-term oil contamination increases deterministic assembly processes in soil microbes

The mechanisms that drive microbial turnover in time and space have received considerable attention but remain unclear, especially for situations with anthropogenic perturbation. To understand the impact of long-term oil contamination on microbial spatial turnover, 100 soil samples were taken from five oil exploration fields located in different geographic regions across China. The microbial functional diversity was analyzed with a high-throughput functional gene array, GeoChip. Our results indicated that soil microbial α-diversity (richness and Shannon diversity index) decreased significantly with contamination. All contaminated and uncontaminated samples exhibited significant spatial autocorrelation between microbial community similarity and spatial distance, as described by a distance-decay relationship (DDR). However, long-term oil exposure flattened the slopes of the DDRs of all of the functional genes and each functional group involved in C/N/P/S cycling, particularly of those involved in contaminant degradation. The relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in microbial assembly was determined. The decrease in microbial spatial turnover with long-term oil contamination was coupled with an increase in the proportion of deterministic processes that structured microbial assembly based on null model analysis. The results indicated long-term oil contamination significantly affects soil microbial community spatial structure by acting as an environmental filter to decrease the regional differences distinguishing soil microbial communities.

Carcinogenic potential of PAHs in oil-contaminated soils from the main oil fields across China

The concentrations, composition profiles, and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in 55 surface soil samples collected from four oil fields across China (Daqing, DQ; Shengli, SL; Xinjiang, XJ; and Huabei, HB). The total 16 priority PAHs concentrations of DQ, SL, XJ, and HB ranged from 857 to 27,816; 480 to 20,625; 497 to 43,210; and 12,112 to 45,325 ng/g, respectively, with means of 9160; 6394; 13,569; and 22,954 ng/g and the seven possible carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 8-25.7 % of the total PAHs. Almost all the samples were heavily contaminated, and phenanthrene, chrysene, and pyrene were the most dominant components. The PAH isomeric ratios indicated that PAHs in oil fields mainly originated from petroleum. The toxic assessment illustrated that people living and working in oil fields would suffer low carcinogenic risk, which was somehow coincided with the results of epidemiological survey on cancer incidence. It seems essential to pay more attention to the chronic human health effects of exposure to oil fields and to focus new studies on the public health field that involves a large number of people all over the world.

Effects of different remediation treatments on crude oil contaminated saline soil

Remediation of the petroleum contaminated soil is essential to maintain the sustainable development of soil ecosystem. Bioremediation using microorganisms and plants is a promising method for the degradation of crude oil contaminants. The effects of different remediation treatments, including nitrogen addition, Suaeda salsa planting, and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi inoculation individually or combined, on crude oil contaminated saline soil were assessed using a microcosm experiment. The results showed that different remediation treatments significantly affected the physicochemical properties, oil contaminant degradation and bacterial community structure of the oil contaminated saline soil. Nitrogen addition stimulated the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon significantly at the initial 30d of remediation. Coupling of different remediation techniques was more effective in degrading crude oil contaminants. Applications of nitrogen, AM fungi and their combination enhanced the phytoremediation efficiency of S. salsa significantly. The main bacterial community composition in the crude oil contaminated saline soil shifted with the remediation processes. γ-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the pioneer oil-degraders at the initial stage, and Firmicutes were considered to be able to degrade the recalcitrant components at the later stage.

Distribution of naphthalene dioxygenase genes in crude oil-contaminated soils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the major pollutants in soils in oil exploring areas. Biodegradation is the major process for natural elimination of PAHs from contaminated soils. Functional genes can be used as biomarkers to assess the biodegradation potential of indigenous microbial populations. However, little is known about the distribution of PAH-degrading genes in the environment. The links between environmental parameters and the distribution of PAH metabolic genes remain essentially unclear. The present study investigated the abundance and diversity of naphthalene dioxygenase genes in the oil-contaminated soils in the Shengli Oil Field (China). Spatial variations in the density and diversity of naphthalene dioxygenase genes occurred in this area. Four different sequence genotypes were observed in the contaminated soils, with the predominance of novel PAH-degrading genes. Pearson's correlation analysis illustrated that gene abundance had positive correlations with the levels of total organic carbon and aromatic hydrocarbons, while gene diversity showed a negative correlation with the level of polar aromatics. This work could provide some new insights toward the distribution of PAH metabolic genes and PAH biodegradation potential in oil-contaminated ecosystems.

Abundance and diversity of soil petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities in oil exploring areas

Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the commonly detected petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in soils in oil exploring areas. Hydrocarbon-degrading genes are useful biomarks for estimation of the bioremediation potential of contaminated sites. However, the links between environmental factors and the distribution of alkane and PAH metabolic genes still remain largely unclear. The present study investigated the abundances and diversities of soil n-alkane and PAH-degrading bacterial communities targeting both alkB and nah genes in two oil exploring areas at different geographic regions. A large variation in the abundances and diversities of alkB and nah genes occurred in the studied soil samples. Various environmental variables regulated the spatial distribution of soil alkane and PAH metabolic genes, dependent on geographic location. The soil alkane-degrading bacterial communities in oil exploring areas mainly consisted of Pedobacter, Mycobacterium, and unknown alkB-harboring microorganisms. Moreover, the novel PAH-degraders predominated in nah gene clone libraries from soils of the two oil exploring areas. This work could provide some new insights towards the distribution of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms and their biodegradation potential in soil ecosystems.

Contrasting microbial functional genes in two distinct saline-alkali and slightly acidic oil-contaminated sites

To compare the functional gene structure and diversity of microbial communities in saline-alkali and slightly acidic oil-contaminated sites, 40 soil samples were collected from two typical oil exploration sites in North and South China and analyzed with a comprehensive functional gene array (GeoChip 3.0). The overall microbial pattern was significantly different between the two sites, and a more divergent pattern was observed in slightly acidic soils. Response ratio was calculated to compare the microbial functional genes involved in organic contaminant degradation and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycling. The results indicated a significantly low abundance of most genes involved in organic contaminant degradation and in the cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus in saline-alkali soils. By contrast, most carbon degradation genes and all carbon fixation genes had similar abundance at both sites. Based on the relationship between the environmental variables and microbial functional structure, pH was the major factor influencing the microbial distribution pattern in the two sites. This study demonstrated that microbial functional diversity and heterogeneity in oil-contaminated environments can vary significantly in relation to local environmental conditions. The limitation of nitrogen and phosphorus and the low degradation capacity of organic contaminant should be carefully considered, particularly in most oil-exploration sites with saline-alkali soils.