Microorganisms are Eating the Oil in the Gulf!

The major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, has been going on for over 3 months. The BP crew at the site of the oil spill are already on their way in capturing all of the oil, by using the well. The newly made cap that has been in use for about 3 weeks now and has been a major help in capturing oil. But what if there was something else that is maybe increasing the process of cleaning the waters of the Gulf?. Marine biologists, have now found that there is a microorganism that is helping the oil spill workers make their job be done even faster. This microorganism is called Alcanivorax. This organism has been said now to be eating all of the oil that is on the surface of the water and deep in the water. Some scientists are worried because the bacteria since its so abundant, they will eventually take up many of the oxygen in the water and leave little for all the other species who live there. Scientists are to some extent concerned that even though these microorganisms are helping the Gulf, that they may be harming all of the other species that are living in the same water.

Even though BP workers have still a lot to clean up, having this other great help, Alcanivorax, will at least give them less work. This article relates to the biology concept of decomposition. Decomposition is the process in which in this case, bacteria is breaking down all of the oil. So decomposition is when bacteria breaks down material that is not used/alive anymore. When animals die for example, bacteria breaks down everything, since it's dead. This article relates to biology because all over Earth, many things die, and the bacterias, are the ones that break them down. If bacteria didn't exist right now, then all of the dead organisms wouldn't be broken down, and it would pile up. So knowing that there is a bacteria that can clean up the water, from all that oil is great news for both the species who live in the water, and for us too.

With all of the oil that was spilled for almost 2 months, and no solution, now there's just not one, but two solutions that will be able to clear the oil even faster. This article was put on the magazine because we now know, that there is at least some effort being made by the bacteria (Alcanivorax), to clean their environment themselves to make it safe for all of their neighbors. We should care about this bacteria eating the oil, because this bacteria is basically helping us and the other species in the water. Also we should care because if there is to be another major oil spill, then we can for sure know that the bacteria will be able to eat the oil, and help us clean. Since the bacteria is very abundant in the gulf, then we up to some extent won't have to worry a lot. For now, we have a partner next to us, Alcanivorax, who will help us recuperate and benefit both us and all the other species, including themselves. With so much oil, the bacteria will never want to stop eating.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/science/earth/05microbe.html?_r=1&ref=science