Microplastic-associated biofilms in lentic Italian ecosystems.

In this study, 16S rRNA gene high throughput sequencing and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to assess for the first time biodiversity and structure of microplastic-associated biofilms (plastisphere) collected from Italian lentic ecosystems. The analysis revealed clear differences in microbial community composition among biofilms and corresponding planktonic populations indicating a selective adhesion on microplastics (MP). Although geographical variations in taxa composition were observed, a plastisphere core microbiome, composed by known biofilm formers found in freshwater ecosystems (e.