Heterotrophic bacterial counts were generally higher in
uncontaminated samples (5 x 104 CFU/g) than in
contaminated soils (Figure 1). Counts of oil-degrading
bacteria ranged from 6 x 104 to 49 x 104 CFU/g in
contaminated samples and from 0 to 14 x 104 CFU/g in
uncontaminated soils and this difference was significant
(p < 0.05) (Figure 2). Generally, there was a reduction in
counts with increase in depth observed for both
heterotrophic bacteria and oil-degraders. Oil-degrading
bacteria isolated from contaminated and uncontaminated
samples included Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia
marcescens and Bacillus mycoides, with Serratia marcescens
being the most predominant at all depths