0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

The microbial community of rust layer biofilm was driven by seawater microbial community

2023 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 30 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Shengxun Yao, Junxiang Lai, Congtao Sun, Zihan Pan, Maomi Zhao, Jizhou Duan, Baorong Hou

Summary

This study found that the microbial community colonizing rust layers on submerged metal structures is largely shaped by surrounding seawater microbes. Understanding how marine bacteria colonize surfaces is relevant to the plastisphere — the distinct microbial communities that form on floating microplastic particles in the ocean.

Study Type Environmental

ABSTRACT Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) accounts for approximately 20% of the total corrosion-related losses worldwide, causing significant economic damage each year, particularly in Marine environments. However, there are still no truly effective and eco-friendly protection solutions against MIC, among which the incomplete understanding of the microbial biofilm development on metallic surface is a key limitation. Using 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing, we studied bacterial and fungal communities in rust layer biofilm and seawater. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidota were the dominant bacterial phyla, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungal phyla both in the rust layer biofilm and seawater. Bacteria like Erythrobacter and Aquimarina, as well as fungi like Aspergillus and Acremonium were were notable microorganisms in the rust layer biofilm. Source analysis revealed differences between biofilm and seawater communities, with 23.08% bacterial and 21.48% fungal communities originating from seawater. Stochastic processes governed biofilm and seawater microbial communities, and network analysis showed coexistence and interaction among bacteria and fungi. IMPORTANCE The composition and source analysis of bacterial and fungal communities in the rust layer and seawater were studied, and the interaction of bacteria and fungi in the rust layer was discussed for the first time. Based on these findings, we provided a framework to explain the observed characteristics of microbial communities in rust layer biofilm and presented key evidence supporting the relationship between different microbial structures and interactions with metal corrosion. These findings, from the perspective of microbial ecology, provide a theoretical foundation for studying microbial corrosion in marine environments.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Dynamics and implications of biofilm formation and community succession on floating marine plastic debris

Researchers examined how biofilms form on plastic debris in aquatic environments and how the resulting microbial communities evolve over time, finding that the plastisphere hosts distinct microbial assemblages including potential pathogens. The study has implications for understanding plastic debris as a vector for microbial dispersal.

Article Tier 2

Marine microbial biofilms on diverse abiotic surfaces

This review provides an overview of how microbial biofilms form on various non-living surfaces in the ocean, including microplastics, seafloor sediments, and submerged structures. Researchers describe how these surface-attached microbial communities have unique compositions and functions that influence ocean ecology and biochemical processes. The study also examines how biofilms contribute to biocorrosion and biofouling, highlighting their broad significance for both natural marine systems and human-built infrastructure.

Article Tier 2

Seawater copper content controls biofilm bioaccumulation and microbial community on microplastics

Researchers found that seawater copper concentration controls both the microbial community composition of biofilms on microplastics and the amount of copper bioaccumulated in those biofilms, demonstrating that metal pollution levels in seawater influence the ecological and chemical behavior of the 'plastisphere'.

Article Tier 2

Unique Bacterial Community of the Biofilm on Microplastics in Coastal Water

Researchers compared bacterial communities forming biofilms on steel, silica, and PVC microplastic surfaces in coastal seawater and found that biofilm composition differed by material type. This shows that the type of plastic surface influences which microbial communities colonize it, with implications for how microplastics may spread specific bacteria.

Article Tier 2

The structure and assembly mechanisms of plastisphere microbial community in natural marine environment

Researchers investigated how microbial communities colonize different types of microplastic surfaces in natural marine environments over an eight-week period. They found that the composition of these plastic-associated microbial communities, known as the plastisphere, was shaped more by environmental conditions and time than by the specific type of plastic. The study provides new understanding of the ecological processes governing how microorganisms assemble on ocean plastic debris.

Share this paper