Marine Microbial Assemblages on Microplastics: Diversity, Adaptation, and Role in Degradation
| Autor: | Matthias Labrenz, Sonja Oberbeckmann |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
0303 health sciences
Microplastics Bacteria Ecology Microbiota Oceans and Seas Microorganism Plastisphere Biodiversity 010501 environmental sciences Biology Oceanography Adaptation Physiological 01 natural sciences 03 medical and health sciences Genus Vibrio Biofilms Water Pollutants Ecosystem Marine ecosystem Microbial biodegradation Adaptation 030304 developmental biology 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| Zdroj: | Annual Review of Marine Science. 12:209-232 |
| ISSN: | 1941-0611 1941-1405 |
| DOI: | 10.1146/annurev-marine-010419-010633 |
| Popis: | We have known for more than 45 years that microplastics in the ocean are carriers of microbially dominated assemblages. However, only recently has the role of microbial interactions with microplastics in marine ecosystems been investigated in detail. Research in this field has focused on three main areas: ( a) the establishment of plastic-specific biofilms (the so-called plastisphere); ( b) enrichment of pathogenic bacteria, particularly members of the genus Vibrio, coupled to a vector function of microplastics; and ( c) the microbial degradation of microplastics in the marine environment. Nevertheless, the relationships between marine microorganisms and microplastics remain unclear. In this review, we deduce from the current literature, new comparative analyses, and considerations of microbial adaptation concerning plastic degradation that interactions between microorganisms and microplastic particles should have rather limited effects on the ocean ecosystems. The majority of microorganisms growing on microplastics seem to belong to opportunistic colonists that do not distinguish between natural and artificial surfaces. Thus, microplastics do not pose a higher risk than natural particles to higher life forms by potentially harboring pathogenic bacteria. On the other hand, microplastics in the ocean represent recalcitrant substances for microorganisms that are insufficient to support prokaryotic metabolism and will probably not be microbially degraded in any period of time relevant to human society. Because we cannot remove microplastics from the ocean, proactive action regarding research on plastic alternatives and strategies to prevent plastic entering the environment should be taken promptly. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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