Environmental plastisphere

Mediterranean Sea is vast accumulation area of plastic debris, having multiple impacts on the marine environment. The surface of these polymers is rapidly colonized by microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria. The different factors influencing this plastisphere composition are still little known. Thanks to chemical characterization of a large plastic sampling panel across the south of the French coast, this study evaluates the influence of several parameters such as the plastic nature, size, colors, sampling location on the plastisphere composition and diversity. Results showed that the bacterial community were affected by the sampling location and the polymer nature but not influenced by plastic colors and size. The spatial distribution of potentially pathogenic genera and hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria have been studied and highlighted that Vibrio genus was more present around the Marseille Port. Moreover, after 80 days in enrichment culture with the plastic as a main carbon source, in both marine and freshwater medium, bacteria able to degrade hydrocarbon were selected and could have a key player in the plastic degradation.