Cited by 542Microplastics and Plastic PollutionMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyMarine Biology and Environmental Chemistry

Spatial and seasonal variation in diversity and structure of microbial biofilms on marine plastics in Northern European waters

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Oberbeckmann, Sonja, Loeder, Martin G.J., Gerdts, Gunnar, Osborn, A. Mark·2014·FEMS Microbiology Ecology

Abstract

Plastic pollution is now recognised as a major threat to marine environments and marine biota. Recent research highlights that diverse microbial species are found to colonise plastic surfaces (the plastisphere) within marine waters. Here, we investigate how the structure and diversity of marine plastisphere microbial community vary with respect to season, location and plastic substrate type. We performed a 6-week exposure experiment with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in the North Sea (UK) as well as sea surface sampling of plastic polymers in Northern European waters. Scanning electron microscopy revealed diverse plastisphere communities comprising prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing analysis revealed that plastisphere microbial communities on PET fragments varied both with season and location and comprised of bacteria belonging to Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and members of the eukaryotes Bacillariophyceae and Phaeophyceae. Polymers sampled from the sea surface mainly comprised polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene particles. Variation within plastisphere communities on different polymer types was observed, but communities were primarily dominated by Cyanobacteria. This research reveals that the composition of plastisphere microbial communities in marine waters varies with season, geographical location and plastic substrate type. We investigated structural and taxonomical variation of microbial biofilm communities on plastic fragments in coastal and offshore Northern European waters, with respect to season, geographical location and plastic type. We investigated structural and taxonomical variation of microbial biofilm communities on plastic fragments in coastal and offshore Northern European waters, with respect to season, geographical location and plastic type.

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  • Loss of samples by anthropogenic impact or natural forces could substantially jeopardize the outcome of experiments.

    “Loss of samples by anthropogenic impact or natural forces (e.g. [29, 38, 40, 42]) could substantially jeopardize the outcome of experiments.”

    From Field and mesocosm methods to test biodegradable plastic film under marine conditions (2020) · cites this paper as [42]

    The Experimental design and sampling section reports that strong currents and winds caused the loss of some attached sample bottles. It does not report losses from anthropogenic impacts or say that the losses substantially jeopardized the experiment; at least three replicates per season and station were recovered for analysis. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  1. Barnes DKA (2004). Natural and plastic floatsam stranding in the Indian Ocean. The Effects of Human Transport on Ecosystems: Cars and Planes, Boats and Trains (Davenport J & Davenport JL, eds), pp. 193-205. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, Ireland.

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Authors
Oberbeckmann, S., Loeder, M. G. J., Gerdts, G., & Osborn, A. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Hull (GB)
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE)
Corresponding author
Oberbeckmann, Sonja
Venue
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Published
2014-11-01
Volume
90
Issue
2
Pages
478-492
ISSN
  • 0168-6496 (ISSN-L)
  • 1574-6941
OpenAlex
W1839247734
Cited by
540
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 70 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3
FWCI
9.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FEMS Microbiology Ecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RMIT Research Repository (RMIT University Library) (submittedVersion)
  • Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
Keywords
plastisphere, marine plastic pollution, biofilm, microbial community diversity, seasonal variation, spatial variability, polyethylene terephthalate, cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, diatoms, brown algae, North Sea
MeSH terms
Bacteria, Molecular Sequence Data, North Sea, Oceans and Seas, Plastics, Seasons, Seawater, Water Pollutants, Bacterial Physiological Phenomena, Biofilms, Eukaryota, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

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