Evidence for n-alkane consumption and oxidation by filamentous cyanobacteria from oil-contaminated coasts of the Arabian Gulf

Microcoleus chthonoplastes and Phormidium corium were isolated from microbial mats covering all sediments along the Arabian Gulf coasts. These isolates could consume and oxidise n-alkanes. The establishment of axenic cultures faced the problem that with progressive axenity the cyanobacterial growth seemed to cease. The associated organotrophic bacteria, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Arthrobacter nicotianae, Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp., could utilize n-alkanes.