The interaction of algae with alcanotrophic bacteria in black oil decomposition

A collection of algal strains, originating from soils and water bodies contaminated with oil spills and tolerant against elevated amounts of toxicants, was tested for the ability to grow in a mineral medium containing 1% of black oil. The presence of alcanotrophic bacteria was found to restore the reproductivity in algae sensitive to black oil, and to stimulate cell growth in tolerant algal strains. Of the three algal classes tested, the representatives of Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae were most tolerant to black oil., whereas the strains of Xanthophyta proved most sensitive. Combinations of alcanotrophic bacteria with certain algal strains (Stichococcus minor ES-19; Chlorella sp. ES-3, ES-27, and ES-30; Scenedesmus quadricauda ES-59, ES-79, and ES-80, Nostoc sp. ES-79-2 and U-15/3; Phormidium sp. ES-90 and 0-b-1), which tolerate elevated amounts of black oil, demonstrated maximum efficiency of oil destruction. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.