2026-04-18T01:33:59Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2445/2160042025-12-17T12:20:06Zcom_2072_1057col_2072_478778col_2072_478917

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Monràs-Riera, Pere  author Ávila Escartín, Conxita author Ballesté Pau, Elisenda author 2024-10-24T12:49:31Z 2024-10-24T12:49:31Z 2024-11 2024-10-24T12:49:31Z Microplastics are present even in remote regions like the Southern Ocean. Once in the water, they are rapidly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming the plastisphere. To address this issue in Antarctic waters, we conducted a microcosm experiment by incubating polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene microplastic pellets, and quartz for 33 days on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. We analysed plastic colonisation and plastisphere dynamics using scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, bacterial cultivation, qPCR, and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Our results show rapid and consistent colonisation, although biomass formation was slightly slower than in other oceans, indicating unique environmental constraints. Time was the main factor influencing biofilm communities, while plastic polymer types had little effect. We observed a transition in microbial communities from early- to late-biofilm stages between days 12 and 19. Additionally, we described the bacterial plastisphere composition in this Antarctic environment, including the presence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. Biofilms Contaminació del mar Microplàstics Antàrtic, Oceà Biofilms Marine pollution Microplastics Antarctic Ocean Plastisphere in an Antarctic environment: A microcosm approach