MAP OF 3D DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCARBONOCLASTIC BACTERIA IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Abstract

The obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB) have been recognized and shown to play a significant role in the biological removal of hydrocarbons from polluted marine waters. The introduction of oil or hydrocarbons into seawater leads to successive blooms of a relatively limited number of indigenous marine bacterial genera (Alcanivorax, Marinobacter, Thallassolituus, Cycloclasticus and Oleispira) which are present at low or undetectable levels before the polluting event. The types of OHCB that bloom depend directly from level and type of pollution and from parameters as the latitude/temperature, salinity, redox etc.... In this work, using data present in GeneBank we have create a virtual map of 3D distribution of OHCB in Mediterranean Sea according to physical-­‐chemical factors.