Anàlisi de la biodiversitat de cianobacteris en tapets microbians i en sistemes experimentals de laboratori contaminats per petroli

Cianobacteria, oxygenic phototrophic bacteria, are the main producers in microbial mats. These ecosystems are extreme environments subject to periods of inundation and dessecation, high temperatures and salinity. Although we known the species composition and the spatial and temporal variations of these populations, little is known about its role in bioremediation. Currently, there is increasing interest in cyanobacteria as tool for self-cleaning of polluted coastal environments, there is evidence that some species can grow phototrophically better in the presence of crude oil. The aim of the present project is to study the effect of oil, using microcosms (experimental laboratory ecosystems). Microcosms will be inoculated with samples from Ebro delta microbial mats and contaminated with crude oil. Natural microbial mats and microcosms will be sampled to analyse changes in proteins, photosynthetic pigments, several abiotic parameters and community typification using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)