Impact of microbial biofilm community shifts on the degradation of microplastics in cold habitats

Plastics constitute the majority of anthropogenic debris released into natural settings. Microplastics account for the majority of litter in marine habitats, which are runoffs from land sources. The adhered autochthonous biological community is responsible for their degradation in these cold habitats. Plastic films harbouring microflora significantly contribute to their biodegradation, as they allow bioavailability of substrates and sharing of metabolites, as a result of which cell viability is increased, thereby escalating biodegradation. Reports are available on various physical, chemical and biological methods employed in plastic degradation. However, little information is known about the effect of unculturable microbial community change on the biodegradation process. The present chapter reports the impact of microbial biofilm community change on the process of degradation of commonly used microplastics present in cold marine habitats. Also, the impact of entrapped pathogens on the evolution of the microbial community was discussed, which further contributes to biodegradation. Finally, combinatorial tools have also been described in the report to apprehend the role of the microbial community in degradation. This information would enable the usage of biofilm-based techniques in the advancement of plastic remediation in the environment.