Plastisphere Community Assemblage in Freshwater

Plastic particles (nano-, micro-, and macroplastics) in freshwater environments can provide artificial microhabitats for microbial colonisation, also known as plastispheres. Although the concept of the freshwater plastisphere has only recently been explored, research shows that, much like in marine environments, plastisphere community composition is often different from microbial communities colonising natural substrates. Plastic pollution is persistent and difficult to eradicate, posing a major challenge to freshwater ecosystems. The plastisphere exacerbates these risks by harbouring pathogens, antibiotic-resistant genes, and toxic pollutants, which may enter organisms that ingest plastic particles. Owing to their small sizes and cryptic nature, microplastics that enable the formation of the plastispheres are envisioned to be difficult to eradicate and are expected to be one of the major challenges facing freshwater ecosystems in the future. Thus, the freshwater plastisphere presents a potential threat to freshwater biota by facilitating interactions between organisms and plastic debris including microplastics or microbial organisms. While most freshwater plastisphere research is on bacterial communities, there is a need to understand other microbial groups, such as archaea and fungi. Furthermore, the potential implications of plastisphere in freshwater ecosystems require further investigation.