Why Is Oil Not Degraded When in a Natural Habitat

question 32

Multiple Choice

Why is oil not degraded when in a natural habitat underground, yet is susceptible to bioremediation in an oil spill?

• A) The high pressure the oil is subjected to underground prevents bacteria from growing and consuming it.
• B) The bacteria can't be given the right amounts or types of nutrients to foster an increase in their number deep underground. Nearer the surface, human intervention can increase the factors that will raise the microbe quantity.
• C) The bacteria that degrade the oil require a higher than normal salt content, much like what is found in seawater. Underground, they lack this salt level.
• D) Oil IS degraded underground, but it happens at a much slower rate because a portion of the cycle is photosynthetic in nature. This process is dramatically increased nearer to the water's surface.
• E) There is no oxygen underground, so bacteria are unable to metabolize oil, an aerobic process. When the oil leaks into a water supply, the bacteria present in that oxygen-rich habitat begin to break it own.

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Definitions:

Parasitic Lice

refer to tiny, wingless insects that live on the skin of humans or animals, feeding on blood and causing irritation.

Overcrowded Conditions

Situations where the number of people in a given space exceeds the capacity comfortably or safely accommodates, often leading to health and safety concerns.

Poor Hygiene

Inadequate cleanliness practices that can lead to health issues and the spread of diseases.

Epidermis

The exterior layer of skin that acts as a waterproof barrier and determines our skin tone.