Apparently this organism is able to utilize some of the components of crude oil or break down 

 products from yeast metabolism of crude oil. Studies were initiated to determine why this one 

 fungus is so successful in the oiled area. The identity of the yeasts present in the oiled soil 

 remains to be worked on but a decrease in total species composition with an increase in the 

 number of particular species also seems to have occurred amongst the yeasts. 



96 



