We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Nitrate nitrogen concentrations drive microbial community composition and functional responses in microplastic surface biofilms
No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →
More Papers Like This
Microplastic: A New Habitat for Biofilm Communities
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics entering aquatic environments are rapidly colonized by microorganisms that form biofilms, creating a unique ecological niche known as the 'plastisphere' that differs markedly from surrounding water communities. These biofilms can harbor pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, raising concerns about microplastics serving as vectors for harmful microorganisms throughout aquatic food chains.
Microplastic – A New Habitat for Biofilm Communities
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics in aquatic environments rapidly become colonized by microbial biofilms forming a distinct 'plastisphere' community that differs markedly from surrounding water microbiomes and may include pathogens and antibiotic-resistant organisms. This novel microplastic-associated habitat raises concerns about plastics serving as vectors for harmful microorganisms that can travel long distances through aquatic systems.
Investigation of microplastic biofilm communities originated from freshwater
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic surfaces in freshwater develop biofilm communities structurally distinct from surrounding water, with specific bacterial taxa dominating depending on whether conditions are nutrient-rich or ambient, regardless of plastic polymer type. These unique MP-associated microbial communities matter because they can alter nutrient cycling, harbor potential pathogens, and serve as vehicles for spreading antimicrobial resistance through aquatic ecosystems.
Dynamics and implications of biofilm formation and community succession on floating marine plastic debris
AI summary Read the abstract
An in situ 42-day exposure experiment in a tropical coastal environment tracked the stepwise colonization of polyethylene plastics by microbial communities, revealing succession from initial Gammaproteobacteria attachment through secondary colonization by cyanobacteria, diatoms, and ultimately multicellular organisms including dinoflagellates and zooplankton. The plastisphere alters both the physical structure of plastic and the dispersal of microorganisms — including potential pathogens — raising concerns about plastic debris as a vector for biological hitchhiking across ocean systems.
The Aquatic Plastisphere: Methodology, Biofilm Formation Mechanism, and Microbial Diversity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how microbial communities form biofilms on microplastics in aquatic environments — creating a unique man-made ecosystem called the plastisphere — and found that these biofilms significantly alter how microplastics move, transform, and affect other organisms in freshwater, marine, and wetland settings.
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.