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Selective enrichment of microbial community and functions in the plastisphere under vanadium pressures from a tailing pond ecosystem
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Researchers analyzed the microbial communities colonizing microplastics (the plastisphere) in a vanadium mine tailings pond, finding that heavy metal pressure selected for low-diversity but functionally specialized assemblages enriched in vanadium-resistant and plastic-degrading bacteria, while also elevating potential pathogenicity genes and suppressing nitrogen cycling relative to surrounding sediments.
Vanadium mining leads to increasing environmental release of vanadium, posing ecological and health risks. are a recognized source of microplastic pollution, making tailings ponds emerging hotspots for microplastic and vanadium coexistence. Vanadium adsorption alters the physicochemical properties of microplastic surfaces, affecting plastisphere microbiome composition and function. It remains unclear how the plastisphere microbiome responds to vanadium stress and the resulting ecological risks. This study aims to investigate the selective enrichment of microbial communities and functions within the plastisphere of tailings pond adjacent to a large-scale vanadium mine. The results reveal plastisphere assemblages with lower diversity but higher functional specialization than surrounding matrices, enriched in vanadium resistant and plastic degrading taxa (Streptomyces, Hydrogenophaga and Delftia). Deterministic processes dominated plastisphere community assembly, driven by environmental filtering from vanadium and co-occurring metals. Functional profiling indicated enhanced aromatic compound degradation and potential pathogenicity genes in the plastisphere, whereas the sediment plastisphere exhibited reduced nitrogen cycling functions, suggesting altered biogeochemical processes and ecological risks. Our findings underscore the scientific value of the plastisphere as a unique ecological niche that reshapes microbial functions, highlighting its critical role in assessing the ecological risks of mining pollution and informing targeted bioremediation strategies.
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Microbial adaptation to co-occurring vanadium and microplastics in marine and riverine environments
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Researchers studied the co-occurrence of vanadium contamination and microplastics in marine and riverine environments and examined how microbial communities respond to both pollutants. They found high concentrations of both contaminants across water and sediment samples, with microplastic biofilms enriched in plastic-degrading bacteria and vanadium-reducing species. The study suggests that vanadium influences microbial community composition on microplastics both directly and indirectly through changes to environmental conditions like pH.
Vertically co-distributed vanadium and microplastics drive distinct microbial community composition and assembly in soil
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Researchers investigated the vertical co-distribution of vanadium and microplastics in soil profiles at a vanadium smelting site. The study found that both contaminants were present throughout the soil column and drove distinct changes in microbial community composition and assembly, suggesting combined impacts on soil ecosystem functioning.
The plastisphere ecology: Assessing the impact of different pollution sources on microbial community composition, function and assembly in aquatic ecosystems
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Researchers studied the microbial communities living on microplastic surfaces (called the plastisphere) across four different aquatic sites and found that plastics host a distinctly different mix of microbes than the surrounding water, shaped by local pollution sources. These plastic-surface microbes also carry more antibiotic resistance genes and show greater potential for breaking down plastics, making the plastisphere both a health concern and a potential bioremediation resource.
Biofilms in plastisphere from freshwater wetlands: Biofilm formation, bacterial community assembly, and biogeochemical cycles
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Researchers studied how bacteria form biofilms on microplastic surfaces in freshwater wetlands and found that these plastic-associated communities differ significantly from natural soil bacteria. The microplastic biofilms had lower diversity but higher activity in carbon processing and nitrogen cycling genes. This means microplastics in wetlands can alter natural nutrient cycles, potentially affecting water quality in ecosystems that many communities rely on.
The ecology of the plastisphere: Microbial composition, function, assembly, and network in the freshwater and seawater ecosystems
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Researchers studied the communities of bacteria and fungi that colonize microplastic surfaces in freshwater and seawater, forming what scientists call the plastisphere. These microplastic-associated communities were distinctly different from those in surrounding water, and included a higher proportion of disease-causing organisms and species involved in pollutant degradation. The findings suggest that microplastics create new habitats that can harbor pathogens and alter natural microbial ecosystems in ways that may affect water quality and human health.
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