AUTHOR=Voskuhl Lisa , Rahlff Janina 

TITLE=Natural and oil surface slicks as microbial habitats in marine systems: A mini review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.1020843

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.1020843

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Natural surface slicks and oil slicks are widespread phenomena at the air-water interface and represent visible surface films with distinct physicochemical and biological properties compared to non-slick surface films and underlying water. Both types of slicks have major functions in nourishing and dispersing surface-dwelling organisms, can significantly inhibit gas exchange between atmosphere and hydrosphere and are known to accumulate pollutants and plastics. Despite these functions and the high frequency of slicks in the marine environment, slicks are little understood considering their microbial inhabitants and contributions of these organisms for natural and oil slick establishment, function, and ecology. Our mini review summarizes the current knowledge of microbial life in natural and oil surface slicks, including the major knowledge gaps and perspectives for future research. Overall, we aim for an increased awareness about the existence of natural sea slicks, the differentiation between natural and anthropogenically caused oil slicks and an improved reporting of slick events during sampling of surface film and seawater from the upper water column.