Polystyrene influences bacterial assemblages in Arenicola marina-populated aquatic environments in vitro.
Plastic is ubiquitous in global oceans and constitutes a newly available habitat for surface-associated bacterial assemblages. Microplastics (plastic particles <5 mm) are especially susceptible to ingestion by marine organisms, as the size of these particles makes them available also to lower trophic levels. Because many marine invertebrates harbour potential pathogens in their guts, we investigated whether bacterial assemblages on polystyrene are selectively modified during their passage through the gut of the lugworm Arenicola marina and are subsequently able to develop pathogenic biofilms. We also examined whether polystyrene acts as a vector for gut biofilm assemblages after subsequent incubation of the egested particles in seawater. Our results showed that after passage through the digestive tract of A. marina, the bacterial assemblages on polystyrene particles and reference glass beads became more similar, harbouring common sediment bacteria. By contrast, only in the presence of polystyrene the potential symbiont Amphritea atlantica was enriched in the investigated biofilms, faeces, and water. Thus, especially in areas of high polystyrene contamination, this polymer may impact the bacterial composition of different habitats, with as yet unknown consequences for the respective ecosystems.
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Seestrasse 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany.
Katharina
K
Kesy
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Seestrasse 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany.
Sonja
S
Oberbeckmann
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Seestrasse 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany.
Felix
F
Müller
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Seestrasse 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany. Electronic address: matthias.labrenz@io-warnemuende.de.
Matthias
M
Labrenz
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating; D017753:Ecosystem; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D005898:Glass; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
D011137:Polystyrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Amphritea sp.; Arenicola marina; Biofilms; Microplastics; Polystyrene