The DOI matches its Crossref record; 144 of the 144 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Marine Microbial Assemblages on Microplastics: Diversity, Adaptation, and Role in Degradation
Open accessAbstract
We have known for more than 45 years that microplastics in the ocean are carriers of microbially dominated assemblages. However, only recently has the role of microbial interactions with microplastics in marine ecosystems been investigated in detail. Research in this field has focused on three main areas: ( a) the establishment of plastic-specific biofilms (the so-called plastisphere); ( b) enrichment of pathogenic bacteria, particularly members of the genus Vibrio, coupled to a vector function of microplastics; and ( c) the microbial degradation of microplastics in the marine environment. Nevertheless, the relationships between marine microorganisms and microplastics remain unclear. In this review, we deduce from the current literature, new comparative analyses, and considerations of microbial adaptation concerning plastic degradation that interactions between microorganisms and microplastic particles should have rather limited effects on the ocean ecosystems. The majority of microorganisms growing on microplastics seem to belong to opportunistic colonists that do not distinguish between natural and artificial surfaces. Thus, microplastics do not pose a higher risk than natural particles to higher life forms by potentially harboring pathogenic bacteria. On the other hand, microplastics in the ocean represent recalcitrant substances for microorganisms that are insufficient to support prokaryotic metabolism and will probably not be microbially degraded in any period of time relevant to human society. Because we cannot remove microplastics from the ocean, proactive action regarding research on plastic alternatives and strategies to prevent plastic entering the environment should be taken promptly.
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“In contrast to degradation rates, microbial PE mineralization rates in the marine environment have not yet been determined (Jacquin et al., 2019;Oberbeckmann and Labrenz, 2020).”
From A stable isotope assay with 13C-labeled polyethylene to investigate plastic mineralization mediated by Rhodococcus ruber (2023) · cites this paper as Oberbeckmann and Labrenz, 2020
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, several microbes were found that seemingly degrade some plastic polymers directly, 32,33 though it is at present debated if and in how far such metabolic traits exist in the marine environment and/or substantially contribute to plastic removal from the ocean environment.[34][35][36]”
From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“Despite the growing body of evidence that microbial degradation of conventional plastics exists, it is still a matter of debate whether this proceeds in the ocean, and to what extend it provides a sink for PMD.36,70,114,115”
From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
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“Earlier works could show that a diversity of microbes colonise PMD”
From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“some evidence exists that these not only comprise opportunistic communities, but that the different polymers might select for a specic, plastic-related community.36,70,73”
From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: A review
Zhang, K., Hamidian, A. H., Tubić, A., Zhang, Y., Fang, J. K., Wu, C., & Lam, P. K. S. (2021) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116554 · Cited by 1,642
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“The use of microplastic-degrading microbes can enhance the biodegradation of marine microplastic already subjected to weathering and external physicochemical factors (Oberbeckmann and Labrenz 2020; Qi et al. 2017).”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Oberbeckmann, S., & Labrenz, M.
- Affiliations
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Labrenz, Matthias
- Venue
- Annual Review of Marine Science
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2020-01-03
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 209-232
- ISSN
- 1941-0611 (ISSN-L)
- 1941-1405
- OpenAlex
- W2949351613
- Cited by
- 471
- References
- 144
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 74 · 2022: 102 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 39
- FWCI
- 2.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Annual Review of Marine Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (03F0788A, 03F0775A)
- Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde
- Leibniz-Gemeinschaft (SAW-2014-IOW-2)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- microplastics, marine microbial communities, plastisphere, biofilm, Vibrio, pathogenic bacteria, microbial adaptation, plastic degradation, marine plastic pollution, plastic alternatives
- MeSH terms
- Microplastics, Adaptation, Physiological, Bacteria, Oceans and Seas, Water Pollutants, Biofilms, Biodiversity, Microbiota
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