Oil is released into sea water from oil tankers or ships. When an oil tanker sinks in water, the oil mixes with the water. Apart from this, oil is used for various types of navigation. All these oils create a shiny layer on top of the water. The oil layer floats on the water and blocks the flow of oxygen. As a result, aquatic plants and animals are severely damaged. Hydrocarbon oxidizing microorganisms like Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Nocardia etc live in the water. These microorganisms break down the oil in the presence of oxygen into simpler components and free the environment from oil pollution. This is why Pseudomonas is called a super bug. The microorganism Pseudomona putica can break down four major hydrocarbons– camphor, octane, xylene and naphthalene.