Microbes & Microplastics: Polymer Selectivity in an Urbanized Estuarine System

We investigated microplastic-associated microbial communities across six common polymer types, inferred spatial contaminant gradients, exposure times, inferred cell activities, and multiple domains of life. We hypothesized that coastal sampling sites proximal to densely populated New York City will yield more plastic-degrading colonizers due to their relatively high plastic discharge rates. This potentially leads to increased selection and community integration of plastic-degrading taxa due to prolonged microbial exposure to plastic debris. We further hypothesized that plastisphere community assembly is controlled by polymer type, which would ultimately improve understanding of recalcitrant carbon bioavailability and changes in biogeochemical cycling caused by plastic pollution.