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The soil plastisphere
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Researchers reviewed the emerging concept of the "soil plastisphere" — the microbial community colonizing plastic debris in terrestrial ecosystems — finding that plastic particles act as selective habitats that enrich distinct bacterial taxa through mechanisms distinct from those operating in aquatic environments, and outlining key open questions for future research.
Understanding the effects of plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems is a priority in environmental research. A central aspect of this suite of pollutants is that it entails particles, in addition to chemical compounds, and this makes plastic quite different from the vast majority of chemical environmental pollutants. Particles can be habitats for microbial communities, and plastics can be a source of chemical compounds that are released into the surrounding environment. In the aquatic literature, the term ‘plastisphere’ has been coined to refer to the microbial community colonizing plastic debris; here, we use a definition that also includes the immediate soil environment of these particles to align the definition with other concepts in soil microbiology. First, we highlight major differences in the plastisphere between aquatic and soil ecosystems, then we review what is currently known about the soil plastisphere, including the members of the microbial community that are enriched, and the possible mechanisms underpinning this selection. Then, we focus on outlining future prospects for research on the soil plastisphere. In this Review, Rillig, Kim and Zhu review our current understanding of the soil plastisphere, including the members of the microbial community that are enriched, the possible mechanisms underpinning this selection and functional properties.
More Papers Like This
Soil plastisphere: Exploration methods, influencing factors, and ecological insights
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This review explored the soil plastisphere, examining how microplastics serve as substrates for microbial colonization in terrestrial ecosystems, and identified key factors influencing plastisphere formation, composition, and ecological functions in soil environments.
The Terrestrial Plastisphere: Diversity and Polymer-Colonizing Potential of Plastic-Associated Microbial Communities in Soil
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Soil-buried plastic debris harbored microbial communities clearly distinct from surrounding bulk soil and from aquatic plastisphere communities, with a core set of plastic-colonizing taxa including Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria detected across both polymer types tested, suggesting that terrestrial plastisphere colonization follows predictable ecological rules.
soil plastisphere: The nexus of microplastics, bacteria, and biofilms
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This commentary examines how microplastics in soil create new microbial ecosystems called the plastisphere, where bacteria colonize plastic surfaces and form biofilms. Researchers discuss how microplastics can carry harmful pathogens and contaminants through soil and into water systems. The study emphasizes the urgent need to better understand how bacteria adapt to these microplastic-rich environments, given the implications for ecosystem and human health.
Ecology of the plastisphere
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This review explores the plastisphere, the diverse microbial community that colonizes plastic debris in the ocean, which now spans multiple biomes on Earth. Researchers examine how microplastics serve as novel substrates for microbial colonization and may facilitate the dispersal of microorganisms, including potentially harmful species, across aquatic ecosystems. The study highlights key questions about whether plastics harbor a unique core microbial community distinct from natural surfaces.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Plastisphere: Formation, Characteristics, and Influencing Factors
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This review explores how microorganisms colonize the surfaces of plastic particles in both soil and water environments, forming communities known as the plastisphere. Researchers found that the types of microbes living on plastics are shaped by factors including plastic type, particle size, aging, and surrounding environmental conditions. The study highlights concerns that these plastic-attached microbial communities could include harmful pathogens and play a role in spreading pollutants.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.