An In Situ Study to Understand Community Structure of Estuarine Microbes on the Plastisphere.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics are defined as pieces of plastic that are smaller than 5 mm and they are now considered one of the most abundant ubiquitous plastic debris. Microbial communities that settle on particles can potentially lead to the transport of pathogenic and harmful bloom-forming species, as well as have an impact on global biogeochemical cycles. However, little is known about the acclimation of microbes to different types of microplastic in the estuarine environment. In this study, 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and analysis was performed on biofilm samples from three different types of microplastic beads placed in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Microbial communities associated with microplastic particles and glass bead control were monitored throughout the 28-day incubation time. A significant ta

SUBMITTER: Sosa A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9415314 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature