We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Plastic leachates impair picophytoplankton and dramatically reshape the marine microbiome
ClearMicroplastics alter the functioning of marine microbial ecosystems
Researchers used experimental mesocosms to investigate how microplastics affect the structure and functioning of marine microbial ecosystems. They found that microplastics indirectly altered marine productivity by shifting the composition of bacterial and phytoplankton communities. The study provides evidence that microplastic pollution can disrupt fundamental ecological processes in ocean ecosystems beyond effects on individual organisms.
Plastic leachates impair growth and oxygen production in Prochlorococcus, the ocean’s most abundant photosynthetic bacteria
Researchers found that chemicals leaching from common plastic items — high-density polyethylene bags and PVC matting — severely impaired growth and photosynthesis in Prochlorococcus, the ocean's most abundant photosynthetic bacteria and a critical driver of global oxygen production. This suggests plastic pollution in the ocean could disrupt the very base of the marine food web.
Plastic leachates promote marine protozoan growth
Researchers studied how chemicals leaching from ocean plastics affect the growth of a marine protozoan and its associated bacteria. They found that plastic leachates dramatically increased dissolved organic carbon in seawater, boosting protozoan growth by up to ten times compared to controls. The study suggests that plastic pollution may be altering the base of marine food webs by providing an unnatural carbon source that shifts microbial community dynamics.
Microplastics drive community dynamics of periphytic protozoan fauna in marine environments
Researchers exposed marine protozoan communities to varying concentrations of microplastics and tracked how the communities changed over time. They found that higher microplastic concentrations reduced species diversity and shifted community composition toward more pollution-tolerant species. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution can reshape the structure of microscopic marine communities, with potential cascading effects up the food web.
Marine microbes in the Plastic Age
This review examines how marine microbes interact with plastic debris in the ocean, describing the physical threats of plastic ingestion and entanglement as well as chemical threats from plastic-associated toxins that can bioaccumulate through food webs. Researchers call for greater investigation into how plastic pollution alters microbial community composition, biodegradation potential, and the broader functioning of ocean ecosystems.
Plastic leachate exposure drives antibiotic resistance and virulence in marine bacterial communities
This study found that chemicals leaching from plastic waste in seawater can promote antibiotic resistance and virulence in marine bacteria, even without direct contact with the plastic surface. Bacteria exposed to plastic leachate showed increased resistance to multiple antibiotics and enhanced ability to cause disease. The findings suggest that the chemical pollution from degrading plastics may pose broader risks to ocean ecosystems and potentially human health than previously recognized.
Microplastics in the marine environment : an ecotoxicological perspective
This doctoral thesis studied the ecotoxicology of marine plastic pollution, examining how microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals affect microbial communities, algae, and invertebrates. The work found that the plasticizer microbiome — bacteria colonizing plastic surfaces — differs from surrounding seawater and may influence how plastic-associated pollutants move through food webs.
How will marine plastic pollution affect bacterial primary producers?
Researchers highlight findings from their earlier study showing that chemicals leaching from common plastics harm Prochlorococcus — marine bacteria responsible for a significant portion of Earth's oxygen production. They outline key open questions about how plastic pollution affects these tiny but essential ocean microbes and what can be done to identify which leached chemicals are most harmful.
Can Microplastic Pollution Change Important Aquatic Bacterial Communities?
Microplastics in coastal sediments can change the composition of important bacterial communities that cycle nutrients and maintain ecosystem health. Microplastic-associated bacteria differ significantly from natural sediment bacteria, with potential consequences for the chemical processes these communities perform.
Gross Negligence: Impacts of Microplastics and Plastic Leachates on Phytoplankton Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
This review examines how microplastics and chemical leachates from plastic debris affect phytoplankton, the microscopic organisms that form the base of aquatic food webs and produce much of Earth's oxygen. Researchers found that these pollutants can alter phytoplankton growth, photosynthesis, and community composition, with cascading effects on ecosystem health. The study warns that disruption of phytoplankton communities could have far-reaching consequences for ocean productivity and global carbon cycles.
Ocean acidification has a strong effect on communities living on plastic in mesocosms
A mesocosm experiment found that simulated ocean acidification significantly changed the microbial communities colonizing plastic debris (the "plastisphere"), increasing the relative abundance of pathogenic and parasite bacteria and altering nutrient cycling. This is concerning because ocean acidification driven by climate change could make plastic pollution even more dangerous by turning floating plastics into enhanced vectors for harmful microbes.
Effects of microplastics on trophic parameters, abundance and metabolic activities of seawater and fish gut bacteria in mesocosm conditions
Mesocosm experiments showed that microplastics altered bacterial community structure and metabolic activity in both seawater and fish guts, suggesting that plastic pollution can disrupt microbial ecosystems in the marine environment. The findings raise concerns about how microplastic-driven microbiome changes could affect fish health and broader ecosystem functioning.
Plastic Leachate Exposure Drives Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence in Marine Bacterial Communities
This study exposed marine bacterial communities to plastic leachate and found that leachate significantly increased antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in the microbiome, suggesting that chemical additives leaching from plastic debris in the ocean can drive the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Do microplastics dramatically shape the homogeneity of protozoan colonization in marine environments?
Researchers exposed protozoan assemblages to a gradient of microplastic concentrations in marine environments to investigate whether MPs shape the homogeneity of protozoan colonization patterns. The results provide insights into how MP pollution alters microbial community structure and the energy transfer roles of protozoa across trophic levels in marine ecosystems.
Combined influence of the nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure on microbial community in seawater environment
Researchers studied the individual and combined effects of nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on microbial communities in seawater. They found that the combination of these two pollutants altered microbial diversity and community structure differently than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and chemical pollutants in the ocean may have complex and unpredictable effects on marine microbial ecosystems.
Dissolved organic carbon leaching from plastics stimulates microbial activity in the ocean
Researchers discovered that ocean plastics continuously leach dissolved organic carbon into seawater — an estimated 23,600 metric tons per year globally — fueling the growth of bacteria at the base of the marine food web. Because plastic pollution is projected to increase tenfold in the coming decade, this plastic-derived carbon input could significantly alter microbial communities and ocean chemistry in ways not yet fully understood.
Microplastics and Ecotoxicity: a Review
This short review summarizes how microplastics harm aquatic microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, and protozoa, drawing on the statistic that over 5 trillion plastic pieces currently contaminate the ocean. It covers the main types and size ranges of plastic waste and their ecotoxic effects on microbial communities. Understanding impacts on microbes matters because these organisms form the base of aquatic food webs and drive nutrient cycling that supports all marine life.
Analysis of 16S rRNA amplicon data illuminates the major role of environment in determining the marine plastisphere microbial communities
Researchers analysed 16S rRNA amplicon data from marine plastisphere communities, finding that environmental factors play the dominant role in determining the microbial communities that colonise microplastic surfaces in marine ecosystems.
Exploring the Microbiome of the Marine Microplastisphere
This review examines the microbiome associated with microplastic particles in marine environments, known as the microplastisphere, describing it as a dynamic and complex ecosystem with significant ecological implications. Researchers found that the microplastisphere harbors distinct microbial communities distinct from surrounding seawater, with potential consequences for marine biodiversity and pollutant transport.
The structure and assembly mechanisms of plastisphere microbial community in natural marine environment
Researchers investigated how microbial communities colonize different types of microplastic surfaces in natural marine environments over an eight-week period. They found that the composition of these plastic-associated microbial communities, known as the plastisphere, was shaped more by environmental conditions and time than by the specific type of plastic. The study provides new understanding of the ecological processes governing how microorganisms assemble on ocean plastic debris.