Plastisphere identified as new ecosystem colonizing marine plastic

The plastisphere is an anthropogenic ecosystem formed by microbial communities that colonize plastic waste in aquatic environments. Originally identified in 2013 by researchers Zettler, Mincer, and Amaral-Zettler through genetic sequencing and electron microscopy in the North Atlantic, this phenomenon transforms artificial plastic surfaces into new habitats for complex biological communities.

When plastic enters the ocean, it triggers a process starting with the adhesion of bacteria and other microorganisms to the polymer. This is followed by the production of extracellular polymeric substances, which facilitates the establishment of diverse organisms, including heterotrophic bacteria, cyanobacteria, and various eukaryotic organisms such as producers, consumers, and predators.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, an estimated 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually, a rate comparable to dumping one truckload of plastic into the sea every minute.