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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Marine Plastic Debris: A New Surface for Microbial Colonization.

Robyn J Wright¹, Gabriel Erni-Cassola², Vinko Zadjelovic³

¹Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.

Environmental Science & Technology

|September 4, 2020

Summary

Marine plastic biofilms, known as the Plastisphere, are increasingly studied. Research indicates these microbial communities on plastics do not significantly differ from those on other surfaces, highlighting areas for future investigation.

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Last Updated: Dec 10, 2025

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Published on: October 24, 2025

Area of Science:

Marine biology
Microbiology
Environmental science

Background:

Plastics in marine environments are rapidly colonized by microbes, forming the Plastisphere.
The Plastisphere influences plastic interactions with the marine ecosystem, including ecotoxicity and food webs.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on marine Plastisphere communities.
To critically assess research on plastic biodegradation and pathogenic microbes within the Plastisphere.
To identify knowledge gaps and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of existing scientific inquiries.
Critical discussion of current research findings.
Identification of key areas for future study.

Main Results:

Plastisphere communities generally do not starkly differ from microbial communities on other inert surfaces, especially in mature biofilms.
Progress has been made in understanding community composition and biofilm development.

Conclusions:

Future research should focus on physical characterization of biofilms, inclusion of controls, study of successional stages, use of environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations, and mechanistic understanding of Plastisphere communities.