Interaction between microbial communities and various plastic types under different aquatic systems. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ashar, Muhammad; Fraser, Maria A.; Li, Jingjing; Wang, Chunsheng; Huang, Wei; Zhang, Dongdong; Zhang, Chunfang
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 162(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Biodegradation -- Polyethylene foam -- Polystyrene -- Polyethylene terephthalate; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the physicochemical surface changes of various plastics caused by indigenous communities. The first invading microbes on plastics in 4 different aquatic communities including seawater, freshwater, marine sediments and lake sediments were developed in microcosm incubation experiments. A mixture of weathered plastics (PE, PS, PET) was incubated with different indigenous communities under their respective habitat simulations. All microbial communities were able to form populations on all plastic surfaces with time-dependent development. Biofilm also affected floatation of plastics and the communities on PE foam (PF) were dominated by genera affiliated with plastic and hydrocarbon degraders. The results showed that indigenous populations were able to degrade plastic pieces and utilize them as carbon sources where the weight of PF was reduced more effectively than PS and PET. Besides, carbonyl groups that were seen with FTIR on initial PF disappeared after microbial treatment along with signs of bioerosion on the plastic surface. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: All of the indigenous aquatic communities were able to reduce plastic weight. PE foam was degraded quicker than PS and PET. Biofouling affected sinking velocity of plastic. Seawater community was the most effective community to decrease the mass of PE foam.