Gieg, Lisa MarieKharey, Gurpreet Singh2019-05-022019-05-022019-04-30Kharey, G. S. (2019). Assessment of Anaerobic Bioremediation Potential in Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers in Alberta, Canada (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.http://hdl.handle.net/1880/110251Anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbon fuels (mono-aromatic and short chain alkane hydrocarbon) was demonstrated under both field and microcosm experiments, with detection of signature metabolites, fumarate addition genes, and microbial community composition to determine the potential of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites for bioremediation and assess the evidence of its past and/or present occurrence. It was determined here that the potential for bioremediation is unique to both the contaminated sites, but also to the hydrocarbon load present. Quantification of the fumarate addition genes using a newly-designed mixture of primers was done. These qPCR assays for assA and bssA abundances concluded that an upper limit to gene abundance is present according to hydrocarbon concentrations, of approximately 5 ppm hydrocarbon. Monitoring hydrocarbon loss from groundwater collected at these sites, paired with fumarate addition gene abundances concluded that the contaminated sites in question have the potential for bioremediation, but is limited with higher hydrocarbon concentrations.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.hydrocarbonbioremediationqPCRenvironmental microbiologyfumarate additionanaerobic microbiologyBiology--CellMicrobiologymaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/36433