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Microplastics as a New Ecological Niche For Multispecies Microbial Biofilms within the Plastisphere
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This review examines microplastics as a novel ecological niche — the 'plastisphere' — analyzing how multispecies microbial biofilms colonize plastic surfaces, differ from surrounding environmental communities, and may facilitate biodegradation and horizontal gene transfer.
The distribution, colonization, and biodegradation of primary and secondary microplastics, as well as were effect on the plastisphere ecological systems, are analyzed. The pathways of microplastic contamination of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere are described. The composition of multispecies communities colonizing the microplastics and their differences from environmental communities unassociated with plastic within the same habitat are considered. The processes of microplastic biodegradation and their role as vectors for transfer of genetic information affecting the structure of natural microbial communities and for the propagation of toxic components are discussed.
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This review examined how microplastics accumulate microbial biofilms, creating a distinct ecological niche with unique community composition and metabolic activities. The microplastic biofilm, or plastisphere, can harbor pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, raising concerns about plastic particles as vectors of biological hazards.
(micro)Plastic biofilms: Keeping afloat by carving out a new niche
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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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This review examines the plastisphere—microbial communities colonizing plastic surfaces in aquatic environments—covering how these biofilms form, their role in plastic biodegradation, and current characterization technologies for studying plastic-microbe interactions.
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This review examines the plastisphere — microbial communities colonizing microplastics — covering the composition and structure of plastisphere microbiomes across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments and discussing ecological consequences including pathogen dispersal.
Aquatic Biofilms and Plastisphere
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This review examined aquatic biofilms and plastisphere communities that colonize microplastic surfaces, discussing how plastic substrates select for distinct microbial assemblages and may harbor pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes.
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