Alcanivorax borkumensis is a rod-shaped degrading bacterium that is commonly associated with natural bioremediate oil spills. It is gram-negative and halophilic. It is in the Proteobacteria phylum and gammaproteobacterial class. This bacterium is classified as a marine hydrocarbon-degrading organism. Its physiology is unusual, characterized by oligotrophy with a restricted growth substrate profile which allows for its alkane metabolism specialization. The genetic composition of Alcanivorax borkumensis helps to break down alkalines such as petroleum into harmless bioproducts. Also, it experiences growth from nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment. Alcanivorax borkumensis is the most well-known and studied bacterium of its type.
Its natural environment is the upper layers of the ocean and marine vegetation. However, it is usually present in low amounts in unpolluted environments. In oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon accident of 2010, biologists noticed a natural shift in bacterial cultures of marine plants and ecosystems to incorporate microorganisms such as Alcanivorax borkumensis to break down petroleum elements. It exists in water and plant tissue for a prolonged time in order to continue sustainable bioremediation and clean-up. The bacterium cultures begin to proliferate in halophilic environments and become a dominant presence in ecosystems affected by oil spills.