Hydrocarbon biodegradation in intertidal wetland sediments

- Alcanivorax sp. is a key alkane degrader in intertidal sediments.
- Many hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria co-exist with oxygenic phototrophs.
- Oxygenated hydrocarbons generate environmentally persistent free radicals.
- The active component of the dispersant COREXIT 9500 is degraded aerobically.
- Novel routes to degrade hydrocarbons have been discovered, for example via 'dark oxygen'.