Monitoring microbial communities in aquifers and soils of the Beetaloo Sub‑basin
Understanding microbial degradation of shale gas industry chemicals and fluids in the Northern Territory.
Research results provide baseline information about microbial communities in aquifers and soils, and improve understanding of how microbes influence degradation of typical onshore chemicals in soils and aquifers. This data can be used to assess the health of an ecosystem.
The study demonstrates that at the concentrations of chemicals tested, microbes are likely able to readily degrade all the chemicals in soils. In aquifers microbes are able to degrade the chemicals at a slower rate.