Surface Texture of Macroplastic Pollution in Streams Alters the Physical Structure and Diversity of Biofilm Communities

Lopez Avila, Fabiola; Capps, Krista A.; Bier, Raven L.

doi:10.1111/1758-2229.70068

Surface Texture of Macroplastic Pollution in Streams Alters the Physical Structure and Diversity of Biofilm Communities

Journal Article · Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Environmental Microbiology Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.70068· OSTI ID:2554061

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Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA

ABSTRACT

Biofilms can develop on nearly any surface, and in aquatic ecosystems they are essential components of biogeochemical cycles and food webs. Plastic waste in waterways is a new type of surface for biofilm colonisation. To analyse the influence of plastic pollution on the development and diversity of microbial freshwater biofilms that colonised them, we incubated 388 cm ² veneers of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) with two veneer textures, smooth and rough, and tulip tree wood ( Liriodendron tulipifera ), in three rural headwater streams at the Savannah River Site (Aiken, SC, USA). We collected biofilms from veneers after 14, 28 and 56 days of incubation and analysed 16S rRNA genes and biofilm properties. We found that plastic negatively affected species richness of biofilms compared with wood, but that evenness was greatest on rough textured HDPE. Beta diversity was primarily influenced by stream site. Beta diversity differed more between wood and plastic veneers than with plastic surface texture and became more different over time. Wood had nine times more biomass than rough HDPE and 40 times more biomass than smooth HDPE. Given the projected increase of macroplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, our findings emphasise the need to further understand its effects on biofilm characteristics.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NONE; EM0005228

OSTI ID:: 2554061

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2554062

Journal Information:: Environmental Microbiology Reports, Journal Name: Environmental Microbiology Reports Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 17; ISSN 1758-2229

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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