Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities
Approximately 9 million metric tons of plastics enters the ocean annually, and once in the marine environment, plastic surfaces can be quickly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming a biofilm. Studies on plastic debris-biofilm associations, known as plastisphere, have increased exponentially wi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022006432 |
| _version_ | 1828059326384701440 |
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| author | Jonas Koh Zhi Xiang Sakcham Bairoliya Zin Thida Cho Bin Cao |
| author_facet | Jonas Koh Zhi Xiang Sakcham Bairoliya Zin Thida Cho Bin Cao |
| author_sort | Jonas Koh Zhi Xiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Approximately 9 million metric tons of plastics enters the ocean annually, and once in the marine environment, plastic surfaces can be quickly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming a biofilm. Studies on plastic debris-biofilm associations, known as plastisphere, have increased exponentially within the last few years. In this review, we first briefly summarise methods and techniques used in exploring plastic-microbe interactions. Then we highlight research gaps and provide future research opportunities for marine plastisphere studies, especially, on plastic characterisation and standardised biodegradation tests, the fate of “environmentally friendly” plastics, and plastisphere of coastal habitats. Located in the tropics, Southeast Asian (SEA) countries are significant contributors to marine plastic debris. However, plastisphere studies in this region are lacking and therefore, we discuss how the unique environmental conditions in the SEA seas may affect plastic-microbe interaction and why there is an imperative need to conduct plastisphere studies in SEA marine environments. Finally, we also highlight the lack of understanding of the pathogenicity and ecotoxicological effects of plastisphere on marine ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:41:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3beb4c2e9c6a41098eee8e07631c1612 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:41:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-3beb4c2e9c6a41098eee8e07631c16122023-01-19T04:16:25ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202023-01-01171107716Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunitiesJonas Koh Zhi Xiang0Sakcham Bairoliya1Zin Thida Cho2Bin Cao3Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeSingapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeSingapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Corresponding author at: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, N1-01C-69, Singapore 639798, Singapore.Approximately 9 million metric tons of plastics enters the ocean annually, and once in the marine environment, plastic surfaces can be quickly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming a biofilm. Studies on plastic debris-biofilm associations, known as plastisphere, have increased exponentially within the last few years. In this review, we first briefly summarise methods and techniques used in exploring plastic-microbe interactions. Then we highlight research gaps and provide future research opportunities for marine plastisphere studies, especially, on plastic characterisation and standardised biodegradation tests, the fate of “environmentally friendly” plastics, and plastisphere of coastal habitats. Located in the tropics, Southeast Asian (SEA) countries are significant contributors to marine plastic debris. However, plastisphere studies in this region are lacking and therefore, we discuss how the unique environmental conditions in the SEA seas may affect plastic-microbe interaction and why there is an imperative need to conduct plastisphere studies in SEA marine environments. Finally, we also highlight the lack of understanding of the pathogenicity and ecotoxicological effects of plastisphere on marine ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022006432PlastisphereBiofilmMarine debrisPlastic-microbe interaction |
| spellingShingle | Jonas Koh Zhi Xiang Sakcham Bairoliya Zin Thida Cho Bin Cao Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities Environment International Plastisphere Biofilm Marine debris Plastic-microbe interaction |
| title | Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities |
| title_full | Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities |
| title_fullStr | Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities |
| title_short | Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities |
| title_sort | plastic microbe interaction in the marine environment research methods and opportunities |
| topic | Plastisphere Biofilm Marine debris Plastic-microbe interaction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022006432 |
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