We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic type and concentration affect prokaryotic community structure and species coexistence in deep-sea cold seep sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted incubation experiments with cold seep sediments amended with four microplastic types (polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene) at varying concentrations, finding that both MP type and concentration significantly altered prokaryotic community structure and species coexistence patterns.
As important methane hydrate storage sites, cold seep areas are threatened by microplastics (MPs) contamination. To assess the environmental impact of MPs on microbial communities in cold seep sediments, an incubation experiment was conducted using cold seep sediment amended with different concentration of polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP) microplastics. The results showed that the different type and concentration of MPs significantly altered the prokaryotic community structures. The PE and PET addition highly changed the relative abundance of bacterial taxa in the bacterial community, while the proportion of archaeal species in the archaeal community was significantly altered in 0.5 % MPs treatments. All of the MPs reduced the network complexity of the bacterial and archaeal communities, such as the lower average degree and greater average path length. Furthermore, the MPs treatments also significantly decreased the network stability of prokaryotic communities. The lower network complexity led to lower network stability was observed in the archaeal community. The formation of oxidative functional groups on PE and PET MP surface based on FTIR analysis suggested that biodegradation could occur in cold seep sediment. Together, these results provide new evidence that MPs could change the structures and species coexistence of prokaryotic communities in cold seep sediments.
More Papers Like This
Effects of microplastics on cold seep sediment prokaryotic communities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics affect microbial communities in cold seep sediments over a 120-day incubation period. The study found that microplastics significantly altered bacterial community structure in a type- and concentration-dependent manner, with some bacteria associated with plastic degradation increasing, while archaeal communities were less affected.
Revealing the response of microbial communities to polyethylene micro(nano)plastics exposure in cold seep sediment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers explored how polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics affect microbial communities in cold seep ocean sediments over a 120-day experiment. While the plastics did not significantly change overall microbial diversity, they did alter the community structure and affected methane-related metabolic processes. The study suggests that plastic pollution could interfere with important deep-sea biogeochemical cycles, including those involved in methane regulation.
Effects of Different Types of Microplastics on Cold Seep Microbial Diversity and Function
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers simulated deep-sea cold seep conditions to study how different microplastics affect microbial communities. They found that microplastics made the plastisphere microbial networks more fragile than surrounding environments and disrupted nitrogen cycling and methane metabolism, while potentially concentrating pathogenic species.
Microplastics Affect Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane and Sedimentary Prokaryotic Communities in Cold Seep Areas
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments exposing cold seep seafloor sediments to microplastics for 120 days showed that polyamide and PET microplastics reduced methane oxidation rates to roughly a third of normal and altered the bacterial communities responsible for this process. Cold seep sediments are major global sinks for methane, so microplastic disruption of this microbial activity could have implications for greenhouse gas cycling in deep ocean environments.
Diversity and distribution of potential polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene plastic-degrading bacteria communities in deep-sea cold-seep ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested bacteria from deep-sea cold-seep sites, places with natural methane and oil-like compounds, to see if they could break down common plastics (PET and PP). After months of lab growth using plastic as the only food source, certain bacterial groups increased in number and visible grooves appeared on the plastic surfaces, suggesting these microbes may help degrade plastic.
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.