Metagenomic insight into the ecological effects of the plastisphere in Yancheng coastal salt marsh, China

Microplastics (MPs) in the environment create a novel ecological niche for microorganisms known as the "plastisphere". Coastal salt marshes, pivotal ecological assets, are acknowledged as crucial sinks for MPs. However, there remains a limited understanding of the ecological impacts of the plastisphere in coastal salt marshes. Herein, a 1-year field experiment was conducted in both the intertidal (Spartina alterniflora) and supratidal (Phragmites australis) zones of Yancheng salt marsh in China, employing metagenomics methods to explore effects.