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Spatial and seasonal variations in biofilm formation on microplastics in coastal waters
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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.
At present, microplastics (MPs) have gradually become a hot issue in marine environmental pollution and may pose a potential threat to marine ecosystems. Since MPs are not easily biodegradable, they can provide the attachment substrates for various organisms, which will affect their floating and transport, and may also lead to the invasion of harmful microorganisms. In this study, polypropylene, polyethylene, polylactic acid pellets, and glass particles were exposed for 6 weeks in different seasons at three stations in the Yellow Sea, China. The results showed that the total amounts of biofilms significantly varied among seasons and functional zones and that the temperature of seawater was the main influencing factor. A variety of biological communities (especially diatoms and bacteria) and extracellular polymeric substances were observed on the MP surfaces using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Sequencing analysis indicated that the structure and composition of microbial communities on MPs mainly varied with seasons and locations. In addition, most of the microorganisms were generally attached to the surface and were not any specific selection of plastic by different chemical compositions. However, the bacteria inhabiting microplastics harbored distinct metabolisms. Our results suggest that low-density MPs may settle quickly in summer in some eutrophic areas.
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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.
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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.
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Surface seawater in the South Yellow Sea contained higher microplastic concentrations in winter than spring or summer, with fibers making up about 90% of particles and polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymers. Seasonal variation in plastic characteristics, especially in summer, reflected greater terrestrial inputs during warmer months.
Biofilm formation and its influences on the properties of microplastics as affected by exposure time and depth in the seawater
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Researchers submerged polyethylene film at three depths in China's Yellow Sea for up to 135 days and tracked how microbial biofilms developed on the plastic over time. They found that biofilm growth increased with exposure time but decreased at greater depths, and the microbial coating changed the surface properties of the plastic, making it less water-repellent. The study demonstrates that biofilm formation on microplastics influences their environmental behavior and ultimate fate in the ocean.
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Researchers found that biofilm structural and functional characteristics on microplastics differ significantly depending on polymer type (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) and change over time, with implications for understanding microbial colonization and the plastisphere.
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