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Abstract
The response of marine bacteria to Corexit 9527, with and without Prudhoe Bay crude
oil labeled withn-(1-(14)C)hexadecane, in a temperate pelagic environment was monitored
over 22 days using controlled ecosystem enclosures. The results indicated that Corexit
and Corexit-dispersed crude oil stimulated bacterial production by serving as substrates
and/or by inducing the release of organic compounds from the indigenous phytoplankton
population. Highest bacterial standing stock was observed in the enclosure treated
with a mixture of Corexit and crude oil, in which a large fraction of the predominant
bacterivores were eliminated. Biodegradation appeared to be more significant than
abiotic processes in contributing to the loss of low volatility n-alkanes in Corexit-dispersed
oil. Twenty-two days following its addition, 50% of the radiotracer was recovered:
3% in the suspended particulate fraction, 10% in sedimentary material, 36% as CO2,
and less than 1% in the dissolved organic pool.