Identification of rare microbial colonizers of plastic materials incubated in a coral reef environment

A 3-month incubation experiment in which High-density polyethylene, Low-density polyethylene and Polypropylene were deployed into the coastal waters of the Bermuda Platform to improve understanding of bacterial colonization, community succession, and identify taxa that preferentially interact with specific polyolefin plastics. The research was conducted in association with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and Oregon State University.