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Characterization of novel fungal-algal symbiosis on LDPE plastic surfaces in the Mediterranean Sea
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Researchers discovered a novel symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga growing together on LDPE plastic surfaces in the Mediterranean Sea. The finding reveals new biological complexity in the ocean plastisphere and raises questions about how these plastic-associated organisms affect plastic degradation and marine ecosystems.
Abstract Plastic debris in the ocean serves as a stable ground for the formation of a complex ecosystem, termed plastisphere, which includes a variety of organisms from different taxonomic groups. Not much is known about the relationships between the organisms of the plastisphere communities. In this study we describe a novel symbiotic relationship between a marine fungus and several species of diatoms on plastic surfaces that were submerged in the water of a Mediterranean Sea marina in Israel. Scanning electron microscope images of the surfaces revealed a network of fungal hyphae with multiple diatom cells attached to them via the side or the tip of their body. Using DNA metabarcoding for the fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) barcode locus, we found that the symbiotic fungus belongs to the phylum Ascomycota, and that it is more abundant on low density polyethylene (LDPE) surfaces compared to other plastic polymers and glass. We hypothesize that the observed symbiotic relationship may have mutual benefits for both parties, including surface-anchoring for the diatoms and nutritional benefits for the fungus, that reflects a recent adaptation for life on floating plastic debris.
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DNA metabarcoding of fungi on marine plastic debris from the Western South Atlantic and Antarctic Peninsula revealed 64 orders across eight fungal phyla, including many taxa not previously described on plastic surfaces. The study is the first to characterize the plastic-associated fungal communities of the Southern Hemisphere, highlighting the unknown ecological roles of plastic-colonizing fungi.
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Researchers measured coupled primary production and heterotrophic bacterial activity on low-density polyethylene microplastic films and surrounding seawater in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea across two contrasting spring seasons, finding that the degree of autotrophy-heterotrophy coupling on plastic biofilms was strongly modulated by ambient nutrient availability and bloom conditions.
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Researchers used metagenomics to identify microbial communities forming biofilms on polyethylene plastic in the ocean. The study found taxonomically diverse consortia that may contain organisms with polyethylene biodegradation potential, advancing understanding of the ocean plastisphere.
Deep-sea plastisphere: long-term colonization by plastic-associated bacterial and archaeal communities in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers found that deep-sea plastic debris hosts distinctive communities of bacteria and fungi that persist over long periods, forming a plastisphere in the deep ocean. The study shows that plastic surfaces support microbial colonisation that differs markedly from surrounding sediment communities.
Early eukaryotic plastisphere in a boreal fjord: Identifying colonization drivers and uncovering novel parasite-diatom co-occurrence.
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Scientists studying ocean plastic found that microbial communities growing on it are shaped mainly by when and where the plastic enters the water, not the type of plastic itself. They also spotted a possible parasite linked to diatoms (tiny algae vital to ocean food chains) living on these plastics, raising questions about how growing plastic pollution might disrupt marine ecosystems that humans rely on for food and oxygen.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.