GERBAM — Deuxième Colloque International de Bactériologie marine — CNRS, Brest, 1-5 octobre 1984
IFREMER, Actes de Colloques, 3, 1986, pp. 621-627
75
EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM BIODEGRADATION PRODUCTS ON PHYTOPLANKTON GROWTH
MM. GOUTX, B. BERLAND, M. LEVEAU and J.C. BERTRAND
Centre d’Océanologie de Marseille, UA 41, Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Case 901,
13288 MARSEILLE Cedex 9 (FRANCE)
RÉSUMÉ - Les effets des produits de la dégradation bactérienne d’un pétrole brut ont été étudiés sur la croissance
de deux microalgues marines. Sucres, lipides et acides aminés sont les principaux constituants issus de la
dégradation du pétrole et sont présents dans le milieu de culture des bactéries aux concentrations de 660 mg.l -1 ,
46 mg.l*' et 72.4 ΜM.l -1 respectivement. La croissance des algues est inhibée lorsque les produits sont
suffisamment concentrés dans leur milieu de culture. Elle est stimulée lorsque leur concentration est faible.
Parmi ces composés, les lipides semblent les plus toxiques. L’inhibition est plus ou moins importante suivant
l’espèce étudiée. Prorocentrum micans est plus sensible que Phaeodaclylum tricornutum vis-à-vis de ces
substances.
Mots clés : bactéries, produits de dégradation, pétrole brut, biosurfactants, toxicité, phytoplancton.
ABSTRACT - The effects of products resulting from petroleum biodegradation in continuous culture, have been
studied on the growth of two marine algae. Sugars, lipids and amino acids are the main components resulting
from petroleum degradation in the bacteria used medium. Their concentrations are respectively 660 mg.l*',
46 mg.l -1 and 74.2µM.l -1
The algae growth is inhibited when products are enough concentrated ; it is stimulated by low concentration.
Among these products, lipids are more toxic than others. The two species show different sensitivity towards the
used medium. Prorocentrum micans growth is more inhibited than that of Phaeodaclylum tricornutum.
Key words : bacteria, petroleum biodegradation products, crude oil, biosurfactants, toxicity, phytoplankton.
INTRODUCTION
Petroleum biodegradation is a naturally occurring process. Actually, it is considered as a
tool against oil pollution in marine environment. There is a dearth of information
concerning the impact of compounds produced by bacterial degradation of crude oil on
marine biota. Such biodegradation products are available in our laboratory as work is
being done to optimise crude oil biodegradation (Bertrand et ai, 1983 ; Rambeloarisoa et
al, 1984) in fermentor. They are a complex mixture of degraded hydrocarbons, residual
petroleum and compounds excreted by bacteria. Bacteria excretion products are mostly
tensio-active substances (biosurfactants) including sugars and lipids, and amino acids.
These products cannot be isolated as a whole because they are part of the used medium in
which bacteria were grown.
Consequently, in this study, the effects of petroleum biodegradation products on phytoplankton have been investigated via the effects of the used medium on the growth of two
microalgae. Experiments have been made to test separately compounds that are present
in the used medium, with a special emphasis on lipids.
621
IFREMER, Actes de Colloques, 3, 1986, pp. 621-627
75
EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM BIODEGRADATION PRODUCTS ON PHYTOPLANKTON GROWTH
MM. GOUTX, B. BERLAND, M. LEVEAU and J.C. BERTRAND
Centre d’Océanologie de Marseille, UA 41, Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Case 901,
13288 MARSEILLE Cedex 9 (FRANCE)
RÉSUMÉ - Les effets des produits de la dégradation bactérienne d’un pétrole brut ont été étudiés sur la croissance
de deux microalgues marines. Sucres, lipides et acides aminés sont les principaux constituants issus de la
dégradation du pétrole et sont présents dans le milieu de culture des bactéries aux concentrations de 660 mg.l -1 ,
46 mg.l*' et 72.4 ΜM.l -1 respectivement. La croissance des algues est inhibée lorsque les produits sont
suffisamment concentrés dans leur milieu de culture. Elle est stimulée lorsque leur concentration est faible.
Parmi ces composés, les lipides semblent les plus toxiques. L’inhibition est plus ou moins importante suivant
l’espèce étudiée. Prorocentrum micans est plus sensible que Phaeodaclylum tricornutum vis-à-vis de ces
substances.
Mots clés : bactéries, produits de dégradation, pétrole brut, biosurfactants, toxicité, phytoplancton.
ABSTRACT - The effects of products resulting from petroleum biodegradation in continuous culture, have been
studied on the growth of two marine algae. Sugars, lipids and amino acids are the main components resulting
from petroleum degradation in the bacteria used medium. Their concentrations are respectively 660 mg.l*',
46 mg.l -1 and 74.2µM.l -1
The algae growth is inhibited when products are enough concentrated ; it is stimulated by low concentration.
Among these products, lipids are more toxic than others. The two species show different sensitivity towards the
used medium. Prorocentrum micans growth is more inhibited than that of Phaeodaclylum tricornutum.
Key words : bacteria, petroleum biodegradation products, crude oil, biosurfactants, toxicity, phytoplankton.
INTRODUCTION
Petroleum biodegradation is a naturally occurring process. Actually, it is considered as a
tool against oil pollution in marine environment. There is a dearth of information
concerning the impact of compounds produced by bacterial degradation of crude oil on
marine biota. Such biodegradation products are available in our laboratory as work is
being done to optimise crude oil biodegradation (Bertrand et ai, 1983 ; Rambeloarisoa et
al, 1984) in fermentor. They are a complex mixture of degraded hydrocarbons, residual
petroleum and compounds excreted by bacteria. Bacteria excretion products are mostly
tensio-active substances (biosurfactants) including sugars and lipids, and amino acids.
These products cannot be isolated as a whole because they are part of the used medium in
which bacteria were grown.
Consequently, in this study, the effects of petroleum biodegradation products on phytoplankton have been investigated via the effects of the used medium on the growth of two
microalgae. Experiments have been made to test separately compounds that are present
in the used medium, with a special emphasis on lipids.
621