Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages
Abstract The ecological dynamics of microplastic (<5 mm) are well documented in marine ecosystems, but the sources, abundance, and ecological role of microplastic in rivers are unknown and likely to be substantial. Microplastic fibers (e.g., synthetic fabrics) and pellets (e.g., abrasives in pers...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1556 |
| _version_ | 1819260679531528192 |
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| author | Amanda R. McCormick Timothy J. Hoellein Maxwell G. London Joshua Hittie John W. Scott John J. Kelly |
| author_facet | Amanda R. McCormick Timothy J. Hoellein Maxwell G. London Joshua Hittie John W. Scott John J. Kelly |
| author_sort | Amanda R. McCormick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The ecological dynamics of microplastic (<5 mm) are well documented in marine ecosystems, but the sources, abundance, and ecological role of microplastic in rivers are unknown and likely to be substantial. Microplastic fibers (e.g., synthetic fabrics) and pellets (e.g., abrasives in personal care products) are abundant in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and can serve as a point source of microplastic in rivers. The buoyancy, hydrophobic surface, and long transport distance of microplastic make it a novel substrate for the selection and dispersal of unique microbial assemblages. We measured microplastic concentration and bacterial assemblage composition on microplastic and natural surfaces upstream and downstream of WWTP effluent sites at nine rivers in Illinois, United States. Microplastic concentration was higher downstream of WWTP effluent outfall sites in all but two rivers. Pellets, fibers, and fragments were the dominant microplastic types, and polymers were identified as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Mean microplastic flux was 1,338,757 pieces per day, although the flux was highly variable among nine sites (min = 15,520 per day, max = 4,721,709 per day). High‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed bacterial assemblage composition was significantly different among microplastic, seston, and water column substrates. Microplastic bacterial assemblages had lower taxon richness, diversity, and evenness than those on other substrates, and microplastic selected for taxa that may degrade plastic polymers (e.g., Pseudomonas) and those representing common human intestinal pathogens (e.g., Arcobacter). Effluent from WWTPs in rivers is an important component of the global plastic “life cycle,” and microplastic serves as a novel substrate that selects and transports distinct bacterial assemblages in urban rivers. Rates of microplastic deposition, consumption by stream biota, and the metabolic capacity of microplastic biofilms in rivers are unknown and merit further research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:29:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4a159112c9a448ba88bf46e591d5a94 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:29:44Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4a159112c9a448ba88bf46e591d5a942022-12-21T17:33:58ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252016-11-01711n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.1556Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblagesAmanda R. McCormick0Timothy J. Hoellein1Maxwell G. London2Joshua Hittie3John W. Scott4John J. Kelly5Department of Biology Loyola University Chicago Illinois 60660 USADepartment of Biology Loyola University Chicago Illinois 60660 USADepartment of Biology Loyola University Chicago Illinois 60660 USADepartment of Biology Loyola University Chicago Illinois 60660 USAPrairie Research Institute Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Champaign Illinois 61820 USADepartment of Biology Loyola University Chicago Illinois 60660 USAAbstract The ecological dynamics of microplastic (<5 mm) are well documented in marine ecosystems, but the sources, abundance, and ecological role of microplastic in rivers are unknown and likely to be substantial. Microplastic fibers (e.g., synthetic fabrics) and pellets (e.g., abrasives in personal care products) are abundant in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and can serve as a point source of microplastic in rivers. The buoyancy, hydrophobic surface, and long transport distance of microplastic make it a novel substrate for the selection and dispersal of unique microbial assemblages. We measured microplastic concentration and bacterial assemblage composition on microplastic and natural surfaces upstream and downstream of WWTP effluent sites at nine rivers in Illinois, United States. Microplastic concentration was higher downstream of WWTP effluent outfall sites in all but two rivers. Pellets, fibers, and fragments were the dominant microplastic types, and polymers were identified as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Mean microplastic flux was 1,338,757 pieces per day, although the flux was highly variable among nine sites (min = 15,520 per day, max = 4,721,709 per day). High‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed bacterial assemblage composition was significantly different among microplastic, seston, and water column substrates. Microplastic bacterial assemblages had lower taxon richness, diversity, and evenness than those on other substrates, and microplastic selected for taxa that may degrade plastic polymers (e.g., Pseudomonas) and those representing common human intestinal pathogens (e.g., Arcobacter). Effluent from WWTPs in rivers is an important component of the global plastic “life cycle,” and microplastic serves as a novel substrate that selects and transports distinct bacterial assemblages in urban rivers. Rates of microplastic deposition, consumption by stream biota, and the metabolic capacity of microplastic biofilms in rivers are unknown and merit further research.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.155616s rRNAbacterial assemblagesmicrobial ecologymicroplastic |
| spellingShingle | Amanda R. McCormick Timothy J. Hoellein Maxwell G. London Joshua Hittie John W. Scott John J. Kelly Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages Ecosphere 16s rRNA bacterial assemblages microbial ecology microplastic |
| title | Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages |
| title_full | Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages |
| title_fullStr | Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages |
| title_short | Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages |
| title_sort | microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers concentration sources and associated bacterial assemblages |
| topic | 16s rRNA bacterial assemblages microbial ecology microplastic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1556 |
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