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Ecology of the plastisphere

Nature Reviews Microbiology 2020 1179 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Tracy J. Mincer, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Tracy J. Mincer, Erik Zettler, Tracy J. Mincer, Tracy J. Mincer, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Tracy J. Mincer, Tracy J. Mincer, Erik Zettler, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Tracy J. Mincer, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Tracy J. Mincer, Erik Zettler, Tracy J. Mincer, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Erik Zettler, Erik Zettler, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Tracy J. Mincer, Tracy J. Mincer, Tracy J. Mincer, Tracy J. Mincer, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Tracy J. Mincer, Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler Linda Amaral‐Zettler

Summary

This review explores the plastisphere, the diverse microbial community that colonizes plastic debris in the ocean, which now spans multiple biomes on Earth. Researchers examine how microplastics serve as novel substrates for microbial colonization and may facilitate the dispersal of microorganisms, including potentially harmful species, across aquatic ecosystems. The study highlights key questions about whether plastics harbor a unique core microbial community distinct from natural surfaces.

Study Type Environmental

The plastisphere, which comprises the microbial community on plastic debris, rivals that of the built environment in spanning multiple biomes on Earth. Although human-derived debris has been entering the ocean for thousands of years, microplastics now numerically dominate marine debris and are primarily colonized by microbial and other microscopic life. The realization that this novel substrate in the marine environment can facilitate microbial dispersal and affect all aquatic ecosystems has intensified interest in the microbial ecology and evolution of this biotope. Whether a 'core' plastisphere community exists that is specific to plastic is currently a topic of intense investigation. This Review provides an overview of the microbial ecology of the plastisphere in the context of its diversity and function, as well as suggesting areas for further research.

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