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Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
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Microplastic surface properties affect bacterial colonization in freshwater
Mohammed R Hossain1, Miao Jiang2, QiHuo Wei2
1Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
Journal of Basic Microbiology
|October 30, 2018
Summary
Bacterial colonization on microplastics in freshwater is influenced by plastic type and surface erosion. Eroded polypropylene showed the highest bacterial abundance, highlighting the role of surface roughness in microbial attachment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Aquatic ecology
- Materials science
Background:
- Microplastics are pervasive environmental contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.
- Bacterial colonization of microplastics is a well-documented phenomenon, but data on freshwater environments and eroded plastics are limited.
- Ubiquitous bacterial species like Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Burkholderia cepacia, and Escherichia coli are relevant to freshwater microbial communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bacterial colonization patterns on various microplastic types in freshwater.
- To assess the impact of surface erosion and physicochemical properties on bacterial attachment.
- To compare colonization dynamics of three distinct bacterial species on microplastics.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of six microplastic types in Lake Erie water microcosms for 8 weeks.
- Inoculation with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Burkholderia cepacia, and Escherichia coli.
- Analysis of bacterial surface coverage using electron and fluorescent microscopy.
- Quantification of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and surface roughness (contact angle measurements).
Main Results:
- Bacterial surface coverage varied significantly among plastic types and bacterial species.
- Escherichia coli maintained the highest abundance, while Acinetobacter calcoaceticus decreased over time.
- Polypropylene disks exhibited lower bacterial abundance, but eroded polypropylene showed the highest, correlating with increased surface roughness (lower contact angles).
Conclusions:
- Microplastic colonization by bacteria is a complex process influenced by both the microplastic's surface properties and the bacteria's physiological characteristics.
- Surface roughness, particularly on eroded microplastics, plays a critical role in enhancing bacterial abundance.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for assessing the ecological impact of microplastics in freshwater systems.
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