We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Surfing and dining on the “plastisphere”: Microbial life on plastic marine debris
Summary
This review examines the microbial communities — the "plastisphere" — that colonize floating plastic debris in the ocean, discussing how these biofilms form, who lives in them, and what risks they may pose to marine ecosystems and human health. The unique chemistry and buoyancy of plastic creates a novel habitat that can transport potentially harmful microbes across ocean basins.
Plastic marine debris represents a global threat for the marine environment, having serious consequences for the ocean, the wildlife and the human health. While the plastics distribution, fate, persistence and toxicity mechanisms for the marine fauna have been more studied in the last decade, small efforts have been devoted to identify and characterize marine microbes that colonize plastic and microplastic debris in the ocean, and their potential to degrade plastics. Here we review the knowledge on the microbial biodiversity and degradation mechanisms of marine plastic debris, and present data, based on metagenomic analyses, on the distribution patterns of genes potentially involved in microbially-mediated plastic degradation in coastal locations across the global ocean. Most studies on plastic-colonizing microbes have focused on seawater rather than sediment, with most studies underlining striking differences in composition between assemblages attached to plastic particles and those in the surrounding environment. The diversity of microbes attached to plastic is high, and the core epiplastic microbial assemblages include often hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, as well as prokaryotic and eukaryotic phototrophs. Several marine microbes have shown to be able to degrade or deteriorate plastic in the laboratory, or to grow on plastic as the only source of carbon, while indirect evidences suggest that microbially-mediated degradation of recalcitrant plastics also occur in the ocean, though at very low rates. Metagenomic analyses show that plastic degradation-related genes are present in microbial assemblages in several coastal ocean sites, with relative abundance related to the magnitude of plastic pollution at each site. Further research is required to study microbial plastic-degraders in the marine ecosystem, to decipher and exploit the potential of microbial consortia to degrade or mineralize plastic compounds, and to better understand the fate and residence times of plastic waste in the ocean.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Marine Plastic Debris: A New Surface for Microbial Colonization
This review examines the "Plastisphere" -- the community of microbes that rapidly colonizes plastic debris in the ocean -- covering biofilm development, potential biodegradation, and the hitchhiking of harmful bacteria. Researchers found that microbial communities on plastics do not dramatically differ from those on other inert surfaces, especially in mature biofilms. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and calls for more environmentally realistic research into how these plastic-associated microbes interact with marine ecosystems.
Ecology of the plastisphere
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.
Microbial colonization and degradation of marine microplastics in the plastisphere: A review
This review explores the "plastisphere" — the community of microorganisms that colonize microplastics floating in the ocean. Researchers found that bacteria, fungi, algae, and other microbes form unique biofilm communities on plastic surfaces, some of which can partially degrade the plastic while others include potentially harmful pathogens. Understanding these microbial communities is important for assessing both the ecological risks and possible bioremediation potential of marine microplastic pollution.
Biofilms on Plastic Debris and the Microbiome
This review synthesizes knowledge on biofilms that colonize plastic debris in the ocean, known as the plastisphere, covering how microbial communities are structured and how they interact with the surrounding environment. The authors discuss implications for nutrient cycling, pathogen transport, and polymer degradation.
Plastisphere microbiome: Methodology, diversity, and functionality
This review explores the plastisphere, the community of microorganisms that colonize plastic debris in the environment. The authors cover methods for studying these microbial communities, the diversity of organisms found living on plastics, and their functional roles including potential plastic degradation and pathogen harboring. Understanding the plastisphere is important because these microbial communities can influence how plastics break down and what health risks plastic pollution may pose.