We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Seasonal biofilm formation on floating microplastics in coastal waters of intensified marinculture area
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated seasonal biofilm formation on floating polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in four coastal mariculture zones in southeast China, finding that biofilm bacterial community composition differed less between winter and summer than the surrounding planktonic bacteria. The results suggest biofilms on microplastics provide a buffering microenvironment that stabilizes bacterial communities across seasons.
The environmental pollution caused by microplastics has received increasing attention recently. In this paper, we present the results of research into the bacterium attached to microplastics in four coastal mariculture zones in southeast China during winter and summer. Polyethene and polypropylene are the main microplastics in the surface water of mariculture area. The differences between the bacteria species composition found on the surface of microplastics in winter and summer were less than that found in the planktonic bacteria, indicating that biofilms protect the bacterium that live inside. Potentially pathogenic Vibrio and Pseudomonas spp. were more abundant in samples from ShanTou and QuanZhou during the summer. Bacteria related to the degradation of microplastics were found extensively on the surface of microplastics at all of the sampling sites. More attention should be paid to the risks resulting from the accumulation of harmful bacteria on microplastic surfaces during the summer.
More Papers Like This
Diversity and succession of microbial communities on typical microplastics in Xincun Bay, a long-term mariculture tropical lagoon
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tracked microbial community succession on polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics over 60 days in a tropical mariculture lagoon, finding that plastisphere bacterial diversity exceeded that of surrounding seawater and that community structure shifted significantly over time.
Spatial and seasonal variation in diversity and structure of microbial biofilms on marine plastics in Northern European waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how microbial biofilm communities on marine plastics vary by season, location, and plastic type in Northern European waters. The study found distinct spatial and seasonal patterns in plastisphere microbial communities on polyethylene terephthalate surfaces, providing insights into how plastic debris develops unique biological communities in marine environments.
Community Composition and Seasonal Dynamics of Microplastic Biota in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers described the seasonal dynamics and community composition of microplastic-associated microbial communities across different environments, finding that temperature and nutrient availability influenced plastisphere diversity. The study contributes to understanding how environmental conditions shape biofilm formation on plastic debris.
Spatial and seasonal variations in biofilm formation on microplastics in coastal waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Polypropylene, polyethylene, polylactic acid, and glass particles exposed in the Yellow Sea across seasons showed that biofilm biomass and community composition (diatoms, bacteria) varied significantly by season and functional zone, with seawater temperature as the main driver.
Characterization of Microplastic-Associated Biofilm Development along a Freshwater-Estuarine Gradient
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized biofilm bacterial communities on three types of microplastics incubated along a freshwater-estuarine gradient, finding that salinity and plastic type influenced microbial community composition and succession over a 31-day period.
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.