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Revealing the response of microbial communities to polyethylene micro(nano)plastics exposure in cold seep sediment

The Science of The Total Environment 2023 20 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Dongdong Zhang, Dongdong Zhang, Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Zhaochao Deng, Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Chunlei Chen, Chunfang Zhang Dongdong Zhang, Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Yinan Deng, Dongdong Zhang, Yinan Deng, Jiawang Chen, Hanghai Zhou, Yinan Deng, Dongdong Zhang, Zhaochao Deng, Yinan Deng, Hanghai Zhou, Hanghai Zhou, Hanghai Zhou, Hanghai Zhou, Lijia Jiang, Lijia Jiang, Zhaochao Deng, Lijia Jiang, Lijia Jiang, Chunlei Chen, Chunfang Zhang Chunlei Chen, Dongdong Zhang, Dongdong Zhang, Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Hanghai Zhou, Jiawang Chen, Chunfang Zhang Zhaochao Deng, Zhaochao Deng, Zhaochao Deng, Chunfang Zhang Dongdong Zhang, Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Jiawang Chen, Jiawang Chen, Jiawang Chen, Jiawang Chen, Dongdong Zhang, Xiqiu Han, Xiqiu Han, Dongdong Zhang, Xiqiu Han, Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Xiqiu Han, Xiqiu Han, Yinan Deng, Chunfang Zhang Dongdong Zhang, Dongdong Zhang, Chunfang Zhang Dongdong Zhang, Dongdong Zhang, Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Chunfang Zhang Dongdong Zhang, Yinan Deng, Chunfang Zhang Jiawang Chen, Dongdong Zhang, Chunfang Zhang

Summary

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.

Polymers

Study Type Environmental

To date, multiple studies have shown that the accumulation of microplastics (MPs)/nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment may lead to various problems. However, the effects of MPs/NPs on microbial communities and biogeochemical processes, particularly methane metabolism in cold seep sediments, have not been well elucidated. In this study, an indoor microcosm experiment for a period of 120 days exposure of MPs/NPs was conducted. The results showed that MPs/NPs addition did not significantly influence bacterial and archaeal richness in comparison with the control (p > 0.05), whereas higher levels of NPs (1 %, w/w) had a significant adverse effect on bacterial diversity (p < 0.05). Moreover, the bacterial community was more sensitive to the addition of MPs/NPs than the archaea, and Epsilonbacteraeota replaced Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum in the MPs/NPs treatments (except 0.2 % NPs). With respect to the co-occurrence relationships, network analysis showed that the presence of NPs, in comparison with MPs, reduced microbial network complexity. Finally, the presence of MPs/NPs decreased the abundance of mcrA, while promoting the abundance of pmoA. This study will help elucidate the responses of microbial communities to MPs/NPs and evaluate their effects on methane metabolism in cold seep ecosystems.

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