The Energy Matrix

While BP continues its work in cleaning up the oil spill, the company is getting a little help. And we do mean little. Various species of oil-eating bacteria are joining the buffet, including a never-before-seen microbe.Previous bacteria of the genus Alcanivorax have been known since 1998. These microbes degrade crude oil at high levels of efficiency, devouring the hydrocarbons and leaving the rest behind, including methane. While not a perfect solution, the bacteria’s presence has come as a relief in recent months to those concerned about the planet’s ability to bounce back from the recent disaster. However, scientists were not sure how the bacteria would react in the deepest (and coldest) parts of the Gulf, where the plume has created a 22-mile long mist. A study done between May 25 and June 2 discovered 16 types of bacteria in a deep-sea plume, but that plume remained until only recently, which led some scientists to believe the bacteria were not “eating” the oil.Now it is known that the bacteria have been having an effect, and represent a previously unknown species. The new bacterium has not been named yet, but it’s certainly overcoming people’s expectations. Instead of creating a large zone where ocean life will not be able to survive, the microbe has been breaking down the oil without significantly lowering the amount of oxygen in the water. Inside the plume, oxygen is at 59 saturation, while outside it is still at 67. Moreover, the new bacterium is particularly suited to cold water, especially the 5 degrees Celsius waters of the Gulf. As we currently consider alternatives to fossil fuel energy, studying these bacteria could provide a means of dealing with future oil concerns.

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