Inoculum of Pseudomonas sp. D_192 significantly alters the prokaryotic community in simulated liquid paraffin-contaminated seawater environment

The investigation involved the utilization of coastal water microcosms that simulated hydrocarbon pollution with liquid paraffin over a duration of 56 days. An inoculum of Pseudomonas sp. D_192 (P_D192), possessing oil degradability, was introduced into the microcosms to examine the impact of externally fortified bacteria within the background medium on the prokaryotic community during the treatment of hydrocarbon pollution in seawater. Significant disparities in alpha/beta diversity and prokaryotic community composition were observed between microcosms with and without the addition of P_D192 inoculum. The introduction of the P_D192 inoculum was found to expedite the degradation of hydrocarbon pollutants by enhancing the relative abundance of petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (especially Alcanivorax sp.) and fortifying metabolic functions associated with xenobiotics biodegradation and hydrocarbon degradation metabolism. Furthermore, the co-occurrence network of the microcosm with P_D192 inoculum exhibited a higher number of positive correlations, indicating an augmentation of facilitative interactions under the influence of Pseudomonas sp. D_192 inoculum.