Short-Term Effects of South Louisiana and Kuwait Crude Oils on Glucose Utilization by Marine Bacterial Populations

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Abstract
Two crude oils, south Louisiana and Kuwait, were examined for their impact on glucose utilization by bacterial populations from the Gulf of Mexico. The uptake and mineralization of [U-14C]glucose was assayed after a 4- to 23-h exposure to various concentrations of added crude oil (0, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1% [vol/vol]). The effects of oil were determined in a total of 15 sediment and 13 water samples collected from offshore, open-bay and salt marsh environments. The utilization of glucose by bacterial populations usually was not affected by added oil; in 10 sediment and 11 water samples, oil had no significant effect on either glucose uptake or mineralization. Stimulation by oil was recorded in 4 sediment samples. Oil inhibition occurred in 1 sediment and 2 water samples, but only in the presence of the highest concentration of added oil, i.e., 0.1%. Short-term exposure to either south Louisiana or Kuwait crude oil, even at 0.1%, usually has no toxic effect on glucose utilization by marine bacterial populations.