[QUOTE=alvis;35107]Read the paper. Now can you give me the abstract? 
So what does all this mean in practical terms. Given the density of bacteria in the GoM. And the likelihood that oil, treated with dispersant, is traveling as plumes. How likely is the oil to get eaten? Percentage wise (hopefully without confidence intervals). I realize this is a wide question…[/QUOTE]
This was useful Link) to help me understand what I think I see, and it does not look good as a prognosis: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=128
Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects (2003)
[SIZE=1]Ocean Studies Board (OSB)
[SIZE=1]Marine Board (MB)
[SIZE=1]Transportation Research Board (TRB)
[Executive Summary (1-4)](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=1)
[1. Introduction (5-18)](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=5)
[2. Understanding the Risk (19-62)](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=19)
[3. Input of Oil to the Sea (63-88)](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=63)
[4. Behavior and Fate of Oil (89-118)](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=89)
[5. Biological Effects of Oil Releases (119-158)](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=119)[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]
I can find plenty of research on [U]methanotropic[/U] (tropic means eats) microrganisms but not [U]petro-tropic[/U] oganisms. There is a distinction. What eats road tar? There is much confusion, so I seek: http://www.patents.com/high-growth-methanotropic-bacterial-strain-6689601.html