Development of a high-resolution technique to monitor landfarm hydrocarbon biodegradative activity

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Hydrocarbon contaminants, like heavy industrial oils, from human industrial activities are toxic to most**organisms. Thankfully microbial communities in soils contain bacterial and fungal members that produce**special enzymes to degrade these complex hydrocarbons. A "landfarm" is a managed plot of land used**specifically to exploit microbial activity for the rapid and safe degradation of hydrocarbons from industrial**activities. EVRAZ in Regina SK, requires an inexpensive, reliable, and high-resolution technique to monitor**the biodegradative activity in their landfarm. This will inform management practices and allow EVRAZ to**effectively promote microbial growth to accelerate the rates of remediation. Moreover, a well-functioning**landfarm provides EVRAZ with the capacity to remediate waste generated by other companies. Researchers at**the University of Regina are partnering with EVRAZ Inc. NA Canada to apply statistical modelling to identify**variables in land management that positively or negatively impact bioremediation capacity. Biological activity**in the landfarm soils will be monitored using genetic technologies that quantify the production of**biodegradative enzymes. Importantly, sampling has been designed with strict statistical experimental design to**ensure that biologically meaningful changes in enzyme expression can be detected and correlated to soil**management practices. Additionally, the use of cutting-edge genetic techniques will provide unprecedented**depth of insight into the microbial activities in the landfarm, allowing the university scientists to identify the**keystone bioremediating microbes and thus target diagnostic techniques for an inexpensive and rapid readout**of landfarm function.