Close encounters on a micro scale: Dynamics and interactions of microplastic biofilms in aquatic ecosystems.

  • Microplastics circulate freely throughout aquatic ecosystems and, due to their interactive nature, accumulate complex polymeric matrices consisting of rich organic compounds and inorganic pollutants. Simultaneously, these hardy substrates offer nutrition and protection to diverse microbial communities and their theatre of activity, representing a new ecological niche. In our work, we investigate the interactions of microplastics in aquatic systems and characterise the effects of these interactions on associated microbial communities to better understand how these substrates might impact surrounding ecosystems. Demonstrating no specificity to polymer type, microplastic biofilms are shaped more by the strong influence of spatial and temporal factors. Microplastic sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in contrast, appear to be more strongly dictated by substrate type, with different polymers observed to sorb varying levels of different PAHs. These interactions between theMicroplastics circulate freely throughout aquatic ecosystems and, due to their interactive nature, accumulate complex polymeric matrices consisting of rich organic compounds and inorganic pollutants. Simultaneously, these hardy substrates offer nutrition and protection to diverse microbial communities and their theatre of activity, representing a new ecological niche. In our work, we investigate the interactions of microplastics in aquatic systems and characterise the effects of these interactions on associated microbial communities to better understand how these substrates might impact surrounding ecosystems. Demonstrating no specificity to polymer type, microplastic biofilms are shaped more by the strong influence of spatial and temporal factors. Microplastic sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in contrast, appear to be more strongly dictated by substrate type, with different polymers observed to sorb varying levels of different PAHs. These interactions between the different emerging contaminants were found in our study to have a significant effect on associated substrate biofilms. Elevated levels of specific 3- and 4-ring PAHs on polyethylene and polystyrene were found to coincide with a notable shift in community composition and structure, as well as a reduced diversity among biofilm communities. The findings in our study illustrate the importance of investigating the collective effect of pollutants in combination and their complex interactions in assessing their environmental impact. To fully understand how microplastics interact and alter surrounding ecosystems, the entire substrate must be considered, including all chemicals integrated into the polymeric matrix.zeige mehrzeige weniger

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Autor*innen:Jessica Song
Koautor*innen:Brittan Scales, Minh Nguyen, Emelie Westberg, Bartek Witalis, Barbara Urban-Malinga, Lukas Beule, Matthias Labrenz, Katrin Wendt-Potthoff, Antje Wichels, Gunnar Gerdts, Sonja Oberbeckmann
Dokumenttyp:Vortrag
Veröffentlichungsform:Präsentation
Sprache:Englisch
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung:2025
Organisationseinheit der BAM:4 Material und Umwelt
4 Material und Umwelt / 4.2 Material-Mikrobiom Wechselwirkungen
DDC-Klassifikation:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik
Freie Schlagwörter:Biofilms; Microplastics; PAHs
Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM:Umwelt
Umwelt / Umwelt-Material-Interaktionen
Veranstaltung:Biofilms 11 Conference
Veranstaltungsort:Cardiff, Wales, UK
Beginndatum der Veranstaltung:13.05.2025
Enddatum der Veranstaltung:15.05.2025
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments:Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access")
Datum der Freischaltung:16.06.2025
Referierte Publikation:Nein
Eingeladener Vortrag (wissenschaftliche Konferenzen):Nein
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