Plastic debris suspended in water and organisms which live in it
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The plastisphere is a human-made ecosystem consisting of organisms able to live on plastic waste. Plastic marine debris, most notably microplastics, accumulates in aquatic environments and serves as a habitat for various types of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.[1][2] As of 2022, an estimated 51 trillion microplastics are floating in the surface water of the world's oceans.[3] A single 5mm piece of plastic can host 1,000s of different microbial species.[4] Some marine bacteria can break down plastic polymers and use the carbon as a source of energy.
Plastic pollution acts as a more durable "ship" than biodegradable material for carrying the organisms over long distances.[5][6] This long-distance transportation can move microbes to different ecosystems and potentially introduce invasive species[1] as well as harmful algae.[7] The microorganisms found on the plastic debris comprise an entire ecosystem of autotrophs, heterotrophs and symbionts.[8] The microbial species found within plastisphere differ from other floating materials that naturally occur (i.e., feathers and algae) due to plastic's unique chemical nature and slow speed of biodegradation. In addition to microbes, insects have come to flourish in areas of the ocean that were previously uninhabitable. The sea skater, for example, has been able to reproduce on the hard surface provided by the floating plastic.[9]
^ abZettler ER, Mincer TJ, Amaral-Zettler LA (2 July 2013). "Life in the 'Plastisphere': Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris". Environmental Science & Technology. 47 (13): 7137–7146. Bibcode:2013EnST...47.7137Z. doi:10.1021/es401288x. PMID 23745679. S2CID 10002632.
^Kirstein, I. V., Wichels, A., Gullans, E., Krohne, G., & Gerdts, G. (2019). The Plastisphere – Uncovering tightly attached plastic "specific" microorganisms. PLoS ONE, 14(4), 1–17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0215859
^"FAU Scientists Uncover 'Missing' Plastics Deep in the Ocean". www.fau.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
^Zettler E. "The "Plastisphere:" A new marine ecosystem | Smithsonian Ocean". ocean.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
^Thomas R (14 June 2021). "Plastic rafting: the invasive species hitching a ride on ocean litter". The Guardian.
^Sahagun L (27 December 2013). "An ecosystem of our own making could pose a threat". Los Angeles Times.
^"Behold the 'Plastisphere'". Consortium for Ocean Leadership. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
^"Scientists Discover Thriving Colonies of Microbes in Ocean 'Plastisphere'". Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
^"Our Trash Has Become A New Ocean Ecosystem Called "The Plastisphere"". Gizmodo. January 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
The plastisphere is a human-made ecosystem consisting of organisms able to live on plastic waste. Plastic marine debris, most notably microplastics, accumulates...
that were identified and the communities they formed were deemed the plastisphere of the garbage patch. Microbes were typically found on polyethylene (PE)...
Zettler, Erik; Mincer, Tracy; Amaral-Zettler, Linda (2013). "Life in the "Plastisphere": Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris" (PDF). Environmental...
2022 suggested that cleaning up garbage here may adversely remove this plastisphere. A 2023 study found that the plastic is home to coastal species surviving...
Retrieved March 16, 2019. Barry, Robert (March 7, 2019). "Welcome To The Plastisphere – Celebrate Matmos's Plastic Anniversary". The Quietus. Retrieved March...
contamination Cleanup options for contaminated soil Plastic pollution Plastisphere "Why food's plastic problem is bigger than we realise". www.bbc.com....
plastic products Plasticulture – Use of plastic materials in agriculture Plastisphere – Plastic debris suspended in water and organisms which live in it Refill...
which adapt to plastic environments or what is scientifically called the plastisphere, yet, it is a product of speculative fiction that takes inspiration but...
have the capabilities to create a substantial impact on this problem. Plastisphere Zrimec, Jan; Kokina, Mariia; Jonasson, Sara; Zorrilla, Francisco; Zelezniak...
Mincer, Tracy J.; Amaral-Zettler, Linda A. (19 June 2013). "Life in the "Plastisphere": Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris". Environmental Science...
for the understanding of the world’s largest ecosystem. Oceans portal Plastisphere Poretsky, 2009 Karl, D. 1999 Corno et al, 2007 Dore et al., 2008 (Karl...