We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Soil plastisphere: Exploration methods, influencing factors, and ecological insights
AI summary Read the abstract
This review explored the soil plastisphere, examining how microplastics serve as substrates for microbial colonization in terrestrial ecosystems, and identified key factors influencing plastisphere formation, composition, and ecological functions in soil environments.
Microplastic (MP), an emerging contaminant, is globally prevalent and poses potential environmental threats and ecological risks to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. When MPs enter into natural environments, they may serve as artificial substrates for microbial colonization and plastisphere formation, providing new ecological niches for microorganisms. Recent studies of the plastisphere have focused on aquatic ecosystems. However, our understanding of the soil plastisphere e.g. its formation process, microbial ecology, co-transport of organic pollutants and heavy metals, and effects on biogeochemical processes is still very limited. This review summarizes latest methods used to explore the soil plastisphere, assesses the factors influencing the microbial ecology of the soil plastisphere, and sheds light on potential ecological risks caused by the soil plastisphere. The formation and succession of soil plastisphere communities can be driven by MP characteristics and soil environmental factors. The soil plastisphere may affect a series of ecological processes, especially the co-transport of environmental contaminants, biodegradation of MPs, and soil carbon cycling. We aim to narrow the knowledge gap between the soil and aquatic plastisphere, and provide valuable guidance for future research on the soil plastisphere in MP-contaminated soils.
More Papers Like This
The soil plastisphere
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the emerging concept of the "soil plastisphere" — the microbial community colonizing plastic debris in terrestrial ecosystems — finding that plastic particles act as selective habitats that enrich distinct bacterial taxa through mechanisms distinct from those operating in aquatic environments, and outlining key open questions for future research.
The Terrestrial Plastisphere: Diversity and Polymer-Colonizing Potential of Plastic-Associated Microbial Communities in Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Soil-buried plastic debris harbored microbial communities clearly distinct from surrounding bulk soil and from aquatic plastisphere communities, with a core set of plastic-colonizing taxa including Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria detected across both polymer types tested, suggesting that terrestrial plastisphere colonization follows predictable ecological rules.
The SpatiotemporalSuccessions of Bacterial and FungalPlastisphere Communities and Their Effects on Microplastic Degradationin Soil Ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers explored spatiotemporal succession of bacterial and fungal plastisphere communities on three microplastic types across three soil types over multiple time periods, finding that colonization environment was the dominant driver of plastisphere microbiome assembly, followed by polymer type and incubation time.
Microplastic polymer properties as deterministic factors driving terrestrial plastisphere microbiome assembly and succession in the field
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers incubated five common microplastic polymer types in landfill soil for 14 months and used 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the plastisphere communities that assembled on each polymer. Polymer type was a significant deterministic factor in plastisphere microbiome composition, which differed from surrounding soil communities and varied over time.
Plastisphere - a new habitat of microbial community: Composition, structure and ecological consequences
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.