Quantitative studies on marine biodegradation of oil II. Effect of temperature

Abstract

The rates of oil biodegradation, as judged by oxygen uptake, were compared at 14 and 4 degrees C, under conditions of continuous replenishment of nitrogen and phosphorus without high concentrations of either. A value of 2.7 was obtained for Q$_{10}^{\prime}$ (the ratio of oxidation rates at 14 and 4 degrees C per unit nitrogen uptake). This agrees with figures for Q$_{10}$ quoted for enriched culture conditions. The uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was not reduced very markedly at lower temperatures and it is considered that nitrogen supply controls the rate of oxidation at 4 degrees C as it did at 14 degrees C. On this basis, tentative estimates of the biodegradative capacity of local seawater are made.