How microbes survive in the plastisphere

Plastic pollution is a global problem. It damages ecosystems, endangers animals, and in the form of nanoplastic particles, can also have consequences for human health. A global agreement to regulate plastic pollution is therefore long overdue. However, plastic particles have also become a new habitat for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae. The ecological significance of this 'plastisphere' for natural communities is the subject of numerous research projects. In a new study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, researchers have examined bacterial metagenomes. The results show that the genomes of microbes in the plastisphere are larger and contain more gene copies associated with functional processes than those of marine plankton. This adaption ensures their survival.