Cited by 1,407Microplastics and Plastic PollutionMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyCoral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

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Ecology of the plastisphere

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Amaral-Zettler, Linda A., Zettler, Erik R., Mincer, Tracy J.·2020·Nature Reviews Microbiology

DOI 10.1038/s41579-019-0308-0

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Abstract

The plastisphere, which comprises the microbial community on plastic debris, rivals that of the built environment in spanning multiple biomes on Earth. Although human-derived debris has been entering the ocean for thousands of years, microplastics now numerically dominate marine debris and are primarily colonized by microbial and other microscopic life. The realization that this novel substrate in the marine environment can facilitate microbial dispersal and affect all aquatic ecosystems has intensified interest in the microbial ecology and evolution of this biotope. Whether a 'core' plastisphere community exists that is specific to plastic is currently a topic of intense investigation. This Review provides an overview of the microbial ecology of the plastisphere in the context of its diversity and function, as well as suggesting areas for further research.

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Authors: Amaral-Zettler, L. A., Zettler, E. R., & Mincer, T. J.
Affiliations: Utrecht University (NL)
Florida Atlantic University (US)
ORCID: Amaral-Zettler, Linda A.
Zettler, Erik R.
Mincer, Tracy J.
Venue: Nature Reviews Microbiology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2020-01-14
Volume: 18
Issue: 3
Pages: 139-151
ISSN: 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
1740-1534
DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0308-0
OpenAlex: W2999939473
Cited by: 1,407
References: 110
Citations by year: 2026: 283 · 2025: 261 · 2024: 231 · 2023: 223 · 2022: 208 · 2021: 131 · 2020: 69
FWCI: 7.04
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.vliz.be
Licence: other-oa
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
www.springer.com/tdm (vor)
Locations: Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
Flanders Marine Institute (Flanders Marine Institute) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
CWI's Institutional Repository (Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica) (submittedVersion)
NIOZ Publications (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
Keywords: plastisphere, microplastics, marine plastic debris, microbial dispersal, biofilm, microbial ecology, microbial evolution, marine litter
MeSH terms: Biodegradation, Environmental, Environmental Pollutants, Plastics, Waste Products, Microbiota

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