Matías Cabán, Kathleen Nicole

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    Growth of fungi recovered from coastal mangroves in waste motor oil: A preliminary study for bioremediation
    (2021-05-12) Matías Cabán, Kathleen Nicole; Cafaro, Matías J.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Ríos Hernández, Luis A.; Ríos Velázquez, Carlos; Department of Biology; Esteves Amador, René F.
    Mangroves are considered complex ecosystems that serve and protect coastlines in tropical environments. But these are constantly exposed to pollutants from motorboats and nearby industries with components such as motor oil and gasoline. These contain contaminants derived from petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), which are also known as fossil fuels, which have been found to be carcinogenic and toxic to the environment and to sea-life species. These mangroves harbor fungi that are able to use these components present in these pollutants. The main objective of this study was to isolate fungi recovered from mangroves that are able to use the components in used motor oil as their sole carbon source to grow. For this study, Boquerón Bay in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico was selected as sampling area. A total of 34 strains were isolated and grown in a basal Congo Red media as a preliminary assay. As a result, 13 isolates were chosen for further analysis involving used motor oil. After an incubation period of 20 days, strains of Aspergillus terreus (KmCR5) and Talaromyces ruber (KmCR11) showed highest biomass production in using waste motor oil as sole carbon source. Furthermore, the best growing isolates were placed as a consortium in a basal waste motor oil medium for an additional 20 days. Out of four consortia, consortium #3 (CB3) grew highest biomass, which included Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (KmCR8), T. ruber (KmCR11), Trichosoporon asahii (KmCR17) and an unidentified strain (KmCR26). This study supports the hypothesis that fungal samples isolated from mangroves in Puerto Rico can use motor oil as sole carbon source for growth; then they can serve as potential bio-remediates for oil pollutants in situ future experiments.