This Volume features protocols for investigating the hydrocarbon- and lipid-specific activities
of microbes. They include methods for studying chemotaxis the colonisation of hydrocarbon
surfaces hydrocarbon uptake respiration nitrogen fixation sulphate reduction membrane
stabilisation through cis-trans isomerisation of membrane fatty acids and the production of
biosurfactants and biopolymers in response to the presence of hydrocarbons. A protocol for
studying the ability of microbes to control the concentration of hydrocarbons in their aqueous
environment is also described and phenotyping methods to reveal microbes' more general
metabolic activities are presented. Several protocols for investigating acid production in
connection with oil souring and biocorrosion by microbes in oil well oil transportation and
storage settings are presented. Lastly protocols for measuring methanogenesis as an example
of microbial hydrocarbon production are described.
