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Marine Plastisphere
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Plastic waste in the ocean isn't just floating debris — it's covered in living microbial communities, sometimes called the "plastisphere," that can include harmful bacteria and can carry pollutants through the marine food chain. This review pulls together current research on how these microbes grow on plastic and interact with ocean chemicals, highlighting concerns that this could help spread disease-causing germs and contaminants to seafood and, ultimately, to people. The authors note that scientists still don't fully understand how these microbial hitchhikers form or exactly how risky they are, so more research is needed before we can accurately assess the health risks.
The global prevalence of plastic debris underscores the urgent need to explore microbial communities thriving on plastic surfaces and the microbial ecology and health impacts of the “plastisphere”. However, little is known about the marine plastisphere. This chapter seeks to provide a broad insight into this microhabitat, especially its microbiome and plastic–microbe interactions, which greatly interest global researchers. Besides providing a better understanding of community composition and biofilm development in the marine plastisphere, we critically discuss current research on the biogeochemical cycles, marine pollution, identification of potential pathogenic “hitchhikers”, and ecotoxicological effects of the marine plastisphere. As an active interface between plastics and their surrounding environments, the plastisphere mediates microplastics’ interactions with their associated chemicals, influencing the ecotoxicities, fates, and trophic transfers of contaminants in marine food webs. Despite these advances, key knowledge gaps remain, including the need for better characterization of multistage development in the natural marine plastisphere, accurate quantification and mechanistic understanding of the plastisphere’s effects on elemental cycles, and integrated tools for microbial resource exploration and functional assessment. Addressing these gaps will improve our understanding of the plastisphere’s ecology and inform strategies to mitigate its ecological and health risks.
More Papers Like This
Surfing and dining on the “plastisphere”: Microbial life on plastic marine debris
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This review examines the microbial communities — the "plastisphere" — that colonize floating plastic debris in the ocean, discussing how these biofilms form, who lives in them, and what risks they may pose to marine ecosystems and human health. The unique chemistry and buoyancy of plastic creates a novel habitat that can transport potentially harmful microbes across ocean basins.
Marine Plastic Debris: A New Surface for Microbial Colonization
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This review examines the "Plastisphere" -- the community of microbes that rapidly colonizes plastic debris in the ocean -- covering biofilm development, potential biodegradation, and the hitchhiking of harmful bacteria. Researchers found that microbial communities on plastics do not dramatically differ from those on other inert surfaces, especially in mature biofilms. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and calls for more environmentally realistic research into how these plastic-associated microbes interact with marine ecosystems.
Microbial colonization and degradation of marine microplastics in the plastisphere: A review
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This review explores the "plastisphere" — the community of microorganisms that colonize microplastics floating in the ocean. Researchers found that bacteria, fungi, algae, and other microbes form unique biofilm communities on plastic surfaces, some of which can partially degrade the plastic while others include potentially harmful pathogens. Understanding these microbial communities is important for assessing both the ecological risks and possible bioremediation potential of marine microplastic pollution.
A review on marine plastisphere: biodiversity, formation, and role in degradation
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This review explored the "plastisphere," the community of bacteria, fungi, and algae that colonize microplastic surfaces in the ocean. Researchers found that these microbial communities differ from those in surrounding seawater and include species capable of degrading plastic, though the process is extremely slow. Understanding the plastisphere is important because it influences how microplastics behave in the ocean, including whether they sink or float and how they interact with marine life.
Potential impact of marine-derived plastisphere as a Vibrio carrier on marine ecosystems: Current status and future perspectives
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This review examines how microplastics in the ocean serve as floating platforms for Vibrio bacteria, which are significant pathogens threatening aquaculture and marine ecosystem health. Researchers found that the so-called plastisphere, the microbial community that colonizes plastic surfaces, can enhance the survival and spread of these harmful bacteria. The study highlights a concerning link between plastic pollution and the potential amplification of waterborne disease risks.
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