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Characterization of
hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in tropical marine sediments
C. B. Chikere*, G. C.
Okpokwasili and O. Ichiakor
Department of Microbiology University of Port Harcourt, P.
M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ujuazed@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348057770448.
Accepted
7 April, 2009 |
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Hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria present in Nembe waterside
sediments, a marine habitat in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were
characterized using standard culture dependent techniques.
The sediment samples were collected along the navigational
route with an Eckman sediment grab (Wild Life Supply Co., NY).
The samples had meant total heterotrophic bacterial count of
6.6 × 107cfu g-1 and hydrocarbon
utilizing bacteria of 8.22 × 102 cfu g-1.
The hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria isolated and identified
belonged to the following genera; Bacillus,
Nocardia, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas,
Flavobacterium, Escherichia, Acinetobacter
and Enterobacter. Bacillus spp. were the most
isolated followed by Pseudomonas spp. Gas
chromatographic analysis of the sediment sample showed a
total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration of 102.02 mg kg-1
and presence of higher chain hydrocarbons like C14,
C16, C18 and C28. Species
of the bacteria isolated are known hydrocarbon degraders and
it is assumed that the genera identified from the sediment
may have the catabolic capability to use petroleum
hydrocarbons as source of carbon. Thus the marine sediments
of the Niger Delta, Nigeria may habour important genera of
bacteria that may have beneficial applications in petroleum
microbiology.
Key
words:
Hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria, total petroleum
hydrocarbons, Nembe waterside, Niger Delta. |
