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Characterizations of formed biofilms and microbial communities on microplastics in coastal rivers of Japan
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Biofilm communities forming on microplastics in coastal rivers of Japan were distinct from those on natural surfaces and varied by polymer type, with certain plastics supporting different microbial assemblages. These plastisphere communities may alter the fate and transport of plastics and could carry microbes — including potential pathogens — into downstream marine environments. The findings add to concerns about the ecological role of microplastics as novel substrates for microbial life.
Plastic debris in the aquatic environment has become a growing concern due to their long-term ecological consequences. Since it is well recognized that plastics provide surfaces for microbial colonization and biofilm formation in the aquatic environment, organic matter cycling can be altered by plastic-associated biofilm due to adhered distinctive microbial functional diversity. Hence, the current study focused on microbial community composition on microplastics (MPs; sizes Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427021/document
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Dynamics and functions of microbial communities in the plastisphere in temperate coastal environments
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Researchers explored microbial communities colonizing microplastics in coastal environments of Japan, comparing bacterial and fungal communities across different plastic types, water, sediment, and sand. The study found that while microbial communities varied by sample type and location rather than plastic shape, microplastics harbored hydrocarbon-degrading organisms as well as potential pathogens, highlighting the ecological significance of plastic-associated biofilms.
Diversity and structure of microbial biofilms on microplastics in riverine waters of the Pearl River Delta, China
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Microbial biofilm communities on microplastics in Pearl River Delta waterways showed distinct composition and diversity compared to surrounding water and natural surfaces, with river environmental conditions more influential than plastic polymer type in shaping biofilm structure.
Microplastic-Associated Biofilms: A Comparison of Freshwater and Marine Environments
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This review compared microplastic-associated biofilm communities in freshwater and marine environments, examining how plastic type, ecosystem, and environmental conditions shape the microbial communities that colonize plastic surfaces. Understanding these "plastisphere" communities is important because they may include pathogens and can affect the fate and transport of plastic particles.
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This review examined how microplastics serve as persistent substrates for microbial biofilm formation in natural environments, creating a novel ecological niche called the plastisphere that hosts distinct microbial communities. The authors discussed how these biofilms alter microplastic surface properties and may enhance the persistence and transport of plastic particles and associated microbes.
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Scientists studied how bacterial communities develop on microplastics versus natural materials in river water and found that plastics support a distinct pattern of microbial colonization. The research identified specific bacteria capable of degrading microplastics and revealed that competition among microbes on plastic surfaces follows unexpected patterns compared to natural substrates.
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