Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter components determine Microcystis aeruginosa-bacteria interaction network and community assembly

Freshwater ecosystems face mounting threats from microplastic pollution, and the dissolved organic matter (DOM) released by these particles represents an emerging ecological risk factor. In this study, a 28-day co-culture experiment was conducted to investigate the comparative effects of photo-aged (UVA-340) MPs-DOM derived from biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) versus conventional polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics on the bacterial community associated with the harmful cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806.