Journal of Aquatic Ecology

Mangrove forests are coastal ecosystems that found worldwide in tropical and subtropical zones. Oil spill causes damage to these marine ecosystems. The objective of this study is study the oil-degrading bacteria in some mangrove forests that located at Persian Gulf. In this study sediments and plant materials were collected from mangrove forests at Persian Gulf (Minab and Khamir ports). Oil-degrading bacteria were screened in specific media. Isolated bacteria were identified by biochemical and molecular tests. Nine crude-oil degrading bacteria were isolated after enrichment at ONR7a medium with 1% crude oil three strains BP14, NP16 and NP19 were selected for further study. These isolated strains were identified as Vibrio azureus and Pseudomonas salomonii. The half percentage of oil was removed by these strains in 15 days of incubation. The highest percentage of crude oil related to NP19 strain with 76 percent degradation. By growth and multiply of these bacteria in field scale we can remediate oil polluted mangrove forest ecosystems.