Oil-Pollution Effects on Microbial Mats
		We investigate how the microenvironment and biogeochemistry of microbial mats are affected by oil-pollution. The work is carried out as part of a larger EU-financed project (MATBIOPOL). A controlled oil-exposure experiment was conducted as a M.Sc. project (Mikkel Benthien). Hypersaline cyanobacterial mats (non-polluted controls and contaminated mat samples) are incubated under constant conditions for several months. Microsensors for O2, pH, and H2S are performed on regular time intervals to identify short- and long-term effects of crude oil contamination on photosynthesis, respiration, sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation. Simultaneously, mat samples are taken for molecular and geochemical analysis by EU-project partners. More details...