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MicrobialDynamics on Different Microplastics in CoastalUrban Aquatic Ecosystems: The Critical Roles of Extracellular PolymericSubstances
Summary
Researchers investigated microbial community composition and extracellular polymeric substance secretion across plastispheres formed on different microplastic types at two coastal urban water sites, using permutational multivariate analysis to show that microplastic type significantly shaped microbial community structure. The findings reveal that EPS production and microbial colonization patterns vary systematically with polymer chemistry, influencing plastisphere ecology.
Microplastics (MPs) serve as carriers for microbial community colonization, forming unique ecosystems known as plastispheres in urban aquatic ecosystems. However, interactions among microbes, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and MPs remain poorly understood. This study investigates microbial consortia and their EPS secretion behaviors across various plastispheres at two representative coastal urban water sites. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance revealed that MP type significantly influenced microbial community structures in reservoir environments (R2 = 0.60, p < 0.001), highlighting the pronounced impact of MP types in high-quality urban waters. Specific microbial phyla and genera were identified as key contributors to EPS compositional variations across different plastispheres. Hierarchical partitioning results identified Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae, and Planctomycetes as influential phyla positively affecting EPS composition. Spearman correlation analysis pinpointed Robiginitialea (positive correlation) and Fimbriiglobus (negative correlation) as critical genera influencing EPS dynamics. Moreover, EPS-related gene abundance corresponded closely with observed EPS compositional differences. Dominant genes associated with protein biosynthesis included xapD in reservoirs and glnA in bays, while glmS and eno were predominant for polysaccharide biosynthesis in bays. This research advances our understanding of microbial-EPS-MP interactions in urban water systems, offering critical insights into ecological remediation and risk assessment of MP pollution.