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Plastisphere - a new habitat of microbial community: Composition, structure and ecological consequences
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This review examines the plastisphere — microbial communities colonizing microplastics — covering the composition and structure of plastisphere microbiomes across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments and discussing ecological consequences including pathogen dispersal.
The pervasive accumulation of non-degradable plastics has escalated ecological threats to the environment. These materials exhibit a strong affinity for microplastics (MPs), which serve as carriers for hazardous chemicals and pathogens, ultimately leading to the formation of plastispheres. Microplastic (MP) pollution is now widespread across multiple biomes, where they host microbial communities that form biofilms with diverse compositions and functions. MPs provide microhabitats for microbes in marine and terrestrial environments, creating unique microenvironments as these organisms colonize plastic surfaces. This study explores the emergence of plastispheres—microbial biofilms that develop on microplastics in marine and terrestrial environments. It highlights how MPs act as vectors for harmful pollutants and pathogens, fostering unique microbial communities with ecological implications. The review analyzes the composition, structure and functional dynamics of plastispheres, alongside the environmental factors driving their formation. This review examines the community composition, structure and function of plastispheres, while also evaluating the factors influencing biofilm formation and the potential ecological risks posed by these synthetic ecosystems. Finally, it assesses the ecological risks associated with these plastic-bound ecosystems, emphasizing their role in global pollution and ecosystem disruption.
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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.
Plastisphere in freshwaters: An emerging concern
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This review introduced the concept of the freshwater plastisphere - the microbial community colonizing plastic debris in rivers and lakes - and found that freshwater plastisphere communities are compositionally distinct from marine ones and from ambient water microbiomes, with implications for pathogen dispersal and plastic degradation in inland waters.
The ecology of the plastisphere: Microbial composition, function, assembly, and network in the freshwater and seawater ecosystems
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Researchers studied the communities of bacteria and fungi that colonize microplastic surfaces in freshwater and seawater, forming what scientists call the plastisphere. These microplastic-associated communities were distinctly different from those in surrounding water, and included a higher proportion of disease-causing organisms and species involved in pollutant degradation. The findings suggest that microplastics create new habitats that can harbor pathogens and alter natural microbial ecosystems in ways that may affect water quality and human health.
Microbial colonization of microplastic particles in aquatic systems
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This review examined how microplastic particles become colonized by diverse microbial communities in aquatic environments, forming the so-called plastisphere. The research highlights that microplastics create novel ecological niches and may facilitate the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater and marine systems.
Plastisphere microbiome: Methodology, diversity, and functionality
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This review explores the plastisphere, the community of microorganisms that colonize plastic debris in the environment. The authors cover methods for studying these microbial communities, the diversity of organisms found living on plastics, and their functional roles including potential plastic degradation and pathogen harboring. Understanding the plastisphere is important because these microbial communities can influence how plastics break down and what health risks plastic pollution may pose.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.