Plastisphere: Marine Microbial Assemblages for Biodegradation of Microplastics

The emergence of plastic waste from industries is a serious ecological concern. In recent years, plastic has been identified in various ecosystems, including human tissues, posing a threat to the biotic components of the Earth and giving rise to potential adverse consequences. The plastic waste is fragmented into smaller components like nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) by different physical and chemical processes. The surface of small plastic polymers is occupied by several microbial communities such as bacteria, fungi, and diatoms, giving rise to the plastisphere. The hydrophobic surface of MPs can provide suitable environment for aquatic microbial communities to colonize and form biofilms. The microbial composition and colonization on the surface of MPs are influenced by the environment and physiochemical properties of the plastisphere. Several techniques are used for the characterization and analysis of the plastisphere to frame a suitable strategy for plastic degradation. In this chapter, we provide a detailed account of the plastic pollution in different environments, factors affecting plastisphere, characterization of plastisphere, and microbial and enzyme-mediated degradation of MPs.