Following the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, bioremediation was used to eliminate much of the oil from the contaminated water. To encourage the growth of oil-degrading microbes, "fertilizer" including iron and nitrogen was added to the water. Which of the following statements regarding the growth of these microbes is incorrect?

The question is incomplete as it does not have the options which are:

A) The concentration of sulfate in the Gulf of Mexico is sufficient for the growth of oil-degrading microbes.

B) Large amounts of iron were needed, as iron is a macronutrient for oil-degrading microbes.

C) Nitrogen gas (N2) present in air is not in a form that can be used by oil-degrading microbes.

D) The oil-degrading microbes used oil (hydrocarbons) as their carbon source.

Answer:

Large amounts of iron were needed, as iron is a macronutrient for oil-degrading microbes.

Explanation:

Bioremediation refers to a process which is performed to detoxify the natural terrestrial or aquatic habitat full of contaminated particles using the biological source like the plants, animals or microorganisms.

In the given question, the accident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 contaminated the aquatic body with oil so the bio-remediation technique was used to detoxify the water.

The oil-consuming bacteria were used to as bioremediation which could use the oil as a source of carbon.

The bacteria uses the support of the oxygen in anaerobic respiration and the fertilisers were added to the water to provide a source of nitrogen and iron. The iron is used by the bacteria in its growth but it is not considered a macronutrient for the bacteria and thus is considered false.

Thus, the selected option is correct.