MICROPLASTICS IN MARINE SEDIMENTS: EFFECTS ON MICROBIAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION REVEALED BY A FLOW-THROUGH REACTOR EXPERIMENT.

Microplastics are prevalent in aquatic environments, their accumulation and integration in marine sediments is imminent. The presence of microplastics complicates our understanding of how pollutants affect microbial dynamics, structure, and function in different environments, and their impacts for ocean biogeochemical cycles. This study investigated microbial interactions with polyethylene (PE) microplastics in estuarine sediments using a flow-through reactor experiment over 14 days. As part of an REU project at the University of New Hampshire, we conducted an experiment to investigate microbial communities found in sediments and their capacity to break down organic matter and compare it to those attached to microplastics. The microplastics were incubated in natural seawater prior to the start of the experiment, representing biofouled microplastics reaching the ocean floor. Sediment flow-through reactor experiments consisted of a constant input of seawater into sediments, where sampling was conducted at three time points (2, 7 and 14 days). The sampling procedure looked at the bacterial cell abundance, microbial community structure (16S rRNA sequencing), biofilm concentration, and potential hydrolytic activity of seven enzymes of sediments and microplastics added to the treatments. Further analysis of our results could lead to the understanding of -who’s there and what are they doing-, related to the microbial interactions with microplastics. Ultimately, our study gives insight into which could be the consequences of microplastics once they reach the ocean floor.

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: Alexis Ruiz Agosto, University of Puerto Rico Humacao (alexis.ruiz9@upr.edu)

Authors:

Alexis Ruiz Agosto, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao  (alexis.ruiz9@upr.edu)

Astrid Zapata De Jesus, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH  (Astrid.ZapataDeJesus@unh.edu)

, Adriana Arce Soto, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez  (adriana.arce1@upr.edu)

Ashley Bulseco, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH  (Ashley.Bulseco@unh.edu)

Kai Ziervogell, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH  (Kai.Ziervogel@unh.edu)