The effects of microbial colonization on microplastics in the marine environment. Plastisphere microbial samples

We carried out a three-time-point (one week, four weeks and eight weeks) incubation experiment and investigated the colonization dynamics of five different microplastic pellets (polyethylene, PE; polystyrene, PS; polypropylene, PP; polyvinyl chloride, PVC; and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ABS) in the coastal seawater of South China Sea. We found that incubation time, polymer type and enviromental factors could affect the microbial community structure.