Gulf Oil Spill Disappearance: Microbes Eat Up the Oil

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SUMMARY

The Gulf Oil Spill has largely disappeared due to the action of oil-eating microbes, particularly the genus Alcanivorax, which metabolizes lighter oil fractions. Research indicates that up to 40% of the oil may have evaporated, while microbial degradation is expected to clear the remaining oil within a couple of years. The use of chemical dispersants has accelerated this process by increasing the surface area of the oil, allowing microbes to consume it more efficiently. However, concerns remain regarding the long-term ecological impact, particularly the potential for oxygen depletion in deeper waters.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of microbial ecology and oil degradation processes
  • Familiarity with the role of dispersants in oil spill response
  • Knowledge of hydrocarbon structures and their biodegradability
  • Awareness of historical oil spills and their ecological impacts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the microbial genera involved in oil degradation, focusing on Alcanivorax and Cyclosticus
  • Study the effects of chemical dispersants on oil spill remediation
  • Explore the long-term ecological consequences of oil spills on marine ecosystems
  • Investigate the differences in oil degradation rates between various marine environments
USEFUL FOR

Environmental scientists, marine biologists, oil spill response teams, and policymakers involved in ecological restoration and disaster management will benefit from this discussion.

  • #31
nismaratwork said:
Well, time will tell right? It's not as though worrying can be beneficial right now, and there's nothing practical to be done either. Wait and see, maybe hope a bit, but beyond that... *shrug*.

It's not even worth arguing about at this point in my view.

A sensible stance. I'll agree with that. If it turns out that we've really botched the environment up this time, it would be important to know either way. Hopefully it doesn't become an excuse for oil companies to become more careless with their drilling practices.
 
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  • #32
FlexGunship said:
Hopefully it doesn't become an excuse for oil companies to become more careless with their drilling practices.

That's definitely a valid concern! Given the economic impact to BP thus far, however, I think that's probably a much stronger incentive for oil companies to avoid mishaps than would be any change to the regulations.
 
  • #34
mugaliens said:
That's definitely a valid concern! Given the economic impact to BP thus far, however, I think that's probably a much stronger incentive for oil companies to avoid mishaps than would be any change to the regulations.

Indeed, and when you add public outrage and increased sensitivity (for a time at least), plus the fallout that's coming when the families of dead and injured oil-platform workers sue... it's not a net incentive. I think oil companies are lying, cheating, amoral scum, but even I doubt that any want to see a repeat of this or anything like it. To see such an event occur anytime soon would shake public confidence in much the way that rapid-fire airline crashes would. Just try to explain on the news about the true nature of random occurrences over the screaming of shock-jocks and frightened people.
 
  • #35
edward said:
There appears to be a lot of oil in a sludge/scum form on the bottom of the gulf.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/oil-bp-spill-found-bottom-gulf/story?id=11618039

Damn, just when I thought we had dodged the bullet.

Edit: On second thought that may be the best place for it.

Oh my goodness! Scientists trying to put the kabosh on the truth?

Gee, where in the world have I seen that happen before? (reference to another forum and a certain mod who abused his authority to push his non-truthful agenda).

Go Professor Joye!
 
  • #36
mugaliens said:
That's definitely a valid concern! Given the economic impact to BP thus far, however, I think that's probably a much stronger incentive for oil companies to avoid mishaps than would be any change to the regulations.

AGREE x 1000!

I don't know why people don't see this fact more easily. The first thing Exxon did with a lot of their rigs after the Deepwater Horizon was shut them down for an 18 hour inspection. No regulation needed.

If there is another catastrophic oil spill, it will not be due to a faulty blow-out preventer.
 
  • #38
Proton Soup said:
anaerobes FTW !

Now THAT is the kind of "ftw" you're not going to see outside of PF. :smile:
 
  • #39
nismaratwork said:
Now THAT is the kind of "ftw" you're not going to see outside of PF. :smile:

FTW.jpg
 
  • #40
FlexGunship said:
FTW.jpg

HA! Two laughs in a row. :smile: Oh my sides...
 
  • #42
nismaratwork said:
Well, assuming that this isn't more of CNN re-publishing months old news... this is very bad in my view.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/15/gulf.oily.layer/index.html?hpt=C1

Ive just read the article. Not sure why this is bad news. That seems like the best place for it until it gets eaten by bacteria. True, it would get eaten faster if it were mixed up, but it would also affect more species in the water column more directly.

Given that the ecosystem has developed to deal with natural ocean-floor leakage, I would say this is an optimal storage location until it's all gone.
 
  • #43
FlexGunship said:
Ive just read the article. Not sure why this is bad news. That seems like the best place for it until it gets eaten by bacteria. True, it would get eaten faster if it were mixed up, but it would also affect more species in the water column more directly.

Given that the ecosystem has developed to deal with natural ocean-floor leakage, I would say this is an optimal storage location until it's all gone.

the bottom substrate also makes a great home for those bacteria. they adhere to the sand particles and form a biological filter medium. home aquarists take advantage of this with deep sand layers in the tank and sometimes refugia.

there will certainly be dead zones like those mentioned where the oil accumulates, but as long as it doesn't cover the entire bottom, those zones should be able to re-seed fairly quickly once the oil is consumed. maybe sooner if it gets buried a bit beneath the surface.
 
  • #44
Um... this is also the feeding ground for crabs, and a great many other basic food-chain items, as well as a placed that many try to make their home. You can skim oil on the surface, but if this isn't prone to metabolism by microbes, we're screwed.
 
  • #45
crabs are resilient bastards, they'll come back
 
  • #46
Proton Soup said:
crabs are resilient bastards, they'll come back

If that's serious, it's funny, if it's a joke in reference to other kinds of crabs... it's funny. Either way, this works for me. :biggrin:
 
  • #47
nismaratwork said:
If that's serious, it's funny, if it's a joke in reference to other kinds of crabs... it's funny. Either way, this works for me. :biggrin:

my feelings towards crabs are similar to yours towards Nader. :rolleyes:
 
  • #48
Proton Soup said:
my feelings towards crabs are similar to yours towards Nader. :rolleyes:

:smile: OK, I get it, I get it.

On topic a bit, it's important to remember that if the crabs are eaten before they can... ahhh... excrete the relevant toxins they'll pass this up the food chain. I admit, crabs alone, and mudbugs in general don't activate my sympathy to a great extent, but it's one example from a guy who is no marine biologist as to how the bottom is not a "safe" place. I will admit, it beats suspended plumes, but I don't know that it's better than the skimmable surface.
 
  • #49
nismaratwork said:
:smile: OK, I get it, I get it.

On topic a bit, it's important to remember that if the crabs are eaten before they can... ahhh... excrete the relevant toxins they'll pass this up the food chain. I admit, crabs alone, and mudbugs in general don't activate my sympathy to a great extent, but it's one example from a guy who is no marine biologist as to how the bottom is not a "safe" place. I will admit, it beats suspended plumes, but I don't know that it's better than the skimmable surface.

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/is-gulf-seafood-safe-to-eat-the-nose-knows/19577398

I smell all of my crab first. So, I should be good.
 

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