New insights into the structure and function of the prokaryotic communities colonizing plastic debris collected in King George Island (Antarctica): Preliminary observations from two plastic fragments

Simone Cappello; Gabriella Caruso; Elisa Bergami; Angela Macrì; Valentina Venuti; Domenico Majolino; Ilaria Corsi

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125586

New insights into the structure and function of the prokaryotic communities colonizing plastic debris collected in King George Island (Antarctica): Preliminary observations from two plastic fragments

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Jul 15:414:125586. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125586. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Authors

Simone Cappello¹, Gabriella Caruso², Elisa Bergami³, Angela Macrì⁴, Valentina Venuti⁵, Domenico Majolino⁵, Ilaria Corsi³

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Spianata San Raineri 86, Messina 98122, Italy.
² Institute of Polar Sciences (ISP), National Research Council (CNR), Spianata San Raineri 86, Messina 98122, Italy. Electronic address: gabriella.caruso@cnr.it.
³ Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy.
⁴ Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Spianata San Raineri 86, Messina 98122, Italy; Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy.
⁵ Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy.

PMID: 34030422
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125586

Abstract

In Antarctic regions, the composition and metabolic activity of microbial assemblages associated with plastic debris ("plastisphere") are almost unknown. A macroplastic item from land (MaL, 30 cm) and a mesoplastic from the sea (MeS, 4 mm) were collected in Maxwell Bay (King George Island, South Shetland) and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance geometry (FTIR-ATR), which confirmed a polystyrene foam and a composite high-density polyethylene composition for MaL and MeS, respectively. The structure and function of the two plastic-associated prokaryotic communities were studied by complementary 16S ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries, total bacterioplankton and culturable heterotrophic bacterial counts, enzymatic activities of the whole community and enzymatic profiles of bacterial isolates. Results showed that Gamma- and Betaproteobacteria (31% and 28%, respectively) dominated in MeS, while Beta- and Alphaproteobacteria (21% and 13%, respectively) in MaL. Sequences related to oil degrading bacteria (Alcanivorax,Marinobacter) confirmed the known anthropogenic pressure in King George Island. This investigation on plastic-associated prokaryotic structure and function represents the first attempt to characterize the ecological role of plastisphere in this Antarctic region and provides the necessary background for future research on the significance of polymer type, surface characteristics and environmental conditions in shaping the plastisphere.

Keywords: Enzymatic profiles; FTIR-ATR; Maritime Antarctica; Plastic pollution; Prokaryotic community; Substrate nature.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alcanivoraceae*
Antarctic Regions
Bacteria / genetics
Plastics*
Polystyrenes

Substances

Plastics
Polystyrenes