Bacterial communities associated with microplastics are substrate-specific: a microcosm study

We used a microcosm experiment to investigate the potential for different microplastic materials to provide substrate for naturally occurring pelagic bacteria. Polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene were chosen as the model polymers due to their importance both as the most widely produced polymers and as widely documented components of marine plastic debris. For comparative purposes, we also used cellulose, a naturally occurring polymer in seston and sediments, and glass beads, an inert alternative that would provide a surface for colonization but not an energy-providing substrate for the microorganisms. The structure and diversity of plastic-colonizing bacterial assemblages across MP types, cellulose and glass were compared.