Sensibility and tolerance of cyanobacteria soil subjected to the action of petroleum hydrocarbons

Abstract

This work aimed to select strains of cyanobacteria with the potential to bioindication and biodegradation processes of hydrocarbon contaminated environments and to evaluate the sensibility and tolerance of the organisms when exposed to such compounds. To test the sensibility and tolerance to hydrocarbon derivatives were used and the species Gloeotrichia natans e Phormidium bohneri, which were cultivated in solutions containing diesel, gasoline and naphthalene. The results showed that the exposure time, concentration and types of contaminants influenced significantly the growth rates in both species. The data suggest that Gloeotrichia natans can be employed as bioindicator species while Phormidium bohneri indicates a species with potential for bioremediate in view of the answers provided by the strains.