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Temmink RJM, Angelini C, Verkuijl M, van der Heide T. Restoration ecology meets design-engineering: Mimicking emergent traits to restore feedback-driven ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166460. [PMID: 37611724 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems shaped by habitat-modifying organisms such as reefs, vegetated coastal systems and peatlands, provide valuable ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and coastal protection. However, they are declining worldwide. Ecosystem restoration is a key tool for mitigating these losses but has proven failure-prone, because ecosystem stability often hinges on self-facilitation generated by emergent traits from habitat modifiers. Emergent traits are not expressed by the single individual, but emerge at the level of an aggregation: a minimum patch-size or density-threshold must be exceeded to generate self-facilitation. Self-facilitation has been successfully harnessed for restoration by clumping transplanted organisms, but requires large amounts of often-limiting and costly donor material. Recent advancements highlight that kickstarting self-facilitation by mimicking emergent traits can similarly increase restoration success. Here, we provide a framework for combining expertise from ecologists, engineers and industrial product designers to transition from trial-and-error to emergent trait design-based, cost-efficient approaches to support large-scale restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J M Temmink
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, PO Box 116580, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Martijn Verkuijl
- Department of Industrial Design Engineering, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Koestraat 3, 8011NG Zwolle, the Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 1790 AB Den Burg, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
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2
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Restaino OF, Giosafatto CVL, Mirpoor SF, Cammarota M, Hejazi S, Mariniello L, Schiraldi C, Porta R. Sustainable Exploitation of Posidonia oceanica Sea Balls (Egagropili): A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087301. [PMID: 37108463 PMCID: PMC10138933 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is the main seagrass plant in the Mediterranean basin that forms huge underwater meadows. Its leaves, when decomposed, are transported to the coasts, where they create huge banquettes that protect the beaches from sea erosion. Its roots and rhizome fragments, instead, aggregate into fibrous sea balls, called egagropili, that are shaped and accumulated by the waves along the shoreline. Their presence on the beach is generally disliked by tourists, and, thus, local communities commonly treat them as waste to remove and discard. Posidonia oceanica egagropili might represent a vegetable lignocellulose biomass to be valorized as a renewable substrate to produce added value molecules in biotechnological processes, as bio-absorbents in environmental decontamination, to prepare new bioplastics and biocomposites, or as insulating and reinforcement materials for construction and building. In this review, the structural characteristics, and the biological role of Posidonia oceanica egagropili are described, as well as their applications in different fields as reported in scientific papers published in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odile Francesca Restaino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Montesantangelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Valeria L Giosafatto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Montesantangelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Seyedeh Fatemeh Mirpoor
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Montesantangelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Marcella Cammarota
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Sondos Hejazi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Montesantangelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Loredana Mariniello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Montesantangelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Schiraldi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Porta
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Montesantangelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
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Menicagli V, Castiglione MR, Balestri E, Giorgetti L, Bottega S, Sorce C, Spanò C, Lardicci C. Early evidence of the impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution on the growth and physiology of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156514. [PMID: 35679937 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous in natural habitats and the risks their presence poses to marine environments and organisms are of increasing concern. There is evidence that seagrass meadows are particularly prone to accumulate plastic debris, including polystyrene particles, but the impacts of this pollutant on seagrass performance are currently unknown. This is a relevant knowledge gap as seagrasses provide multiple ecosystem services and are declining globally due to anthropogenic impact and climate-change-related stressors. Here, we explored the potential effects of a 12 day-exposure of seagrasses to one concentration (68 μg/L) of polystyrene MPs and NPs on the growth, oxidative status, and photosynthetic efficiency of plants using the foundation species Cymodocea nodosa as a model. Among plant organs, adventitious roots were particularly affected by MPs and NPs showing complete degeneration. The number of leaves per shoot was lower in MPs- and NPs-treated plants compared to control plants, and leaf loss exceeded new leaf production in MPs-treated plants. MPs also reduced photochemical efficiency and increased pigment content compared to control plants. Shoots of NPs-treated plants showed a greater oxidative damage and phenol content than those of control plants and MPs-treated plants. Biochemical data about oxidative stress markers were consistent with histochemical results. The effects of MPs on C. nodosa could be related to their adhesion to plant surface while those of NPs to entering tissues. Our study provides the first experimental evidence of the potential harmful effects of MPs/NPs on seagrass development. It also suggests that the exposure of seagrasses to MPs/NPs in natural environments could have negative consequences on the functioning of seagrass ecosystems. This stresses the importance of implementing cleaning programs to remove all plastics already present in marine habitats as well as of undertaking specific actions to prevent the introduction of these pollutants within seagrass meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Menicagli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy
| | - Monica Ruffini Castiglione
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Balestri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Lucia Giorgetti
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (IBBA-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Bottega
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Carlo Sorce
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carmelina Spanò
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Lardicci
- Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy
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Ambo-Rappe R. The success of seagrass restoration using Enhalus acoroides seeds is correlated with substrate and hydrodynamic conditions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 310:114692. [PMID: 35192985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The extent of seagrass areas and their associated ecosystem functions and services have been declining due to many factors. Seagrass restoration is important to mitigate such declines. Seagrass restoration using seeds can be a viable method due to the high seed availability of some seagrass species and could enhance seagrass resilience to climate change stress. However, this method sometimes has low success rates due to high seed predation and seeds being washed away by wave action or substrate movement. The research was conducted to compare the settlement of Enhalus acoroides seeds and the establishment of seedlings on different sediment types (fine sand, coarse sand, and hard substrate with rubble) combined with different wave exposure levels (high and moderate). This is the first study to observe seed survival and seedling establishment of the tropical seagrass E. acoroides in the wild. On average, 64% of seeds dispersed on fine sand substrate at a moderate exposure site survived and developed into established seedlings by the end of the 40 days observation period, but the survival of seeds dispersed on coarse sand at high exposure and hard substrate at moderate exposure only remained above 50% for up to 3 days, and had declined to 2% and 1.4%, respectively, by day 40. Six years later, surviving E. acoroides sample from the coarse sand and hard substrate both had well-developed rhizomes but fewer roots than the plant from the fine sand site, these rhizome and roots characteristics were likely adaptations to increase anchoring capacity in the specific site. The results indicate that Enhalus seed settlement and seedling establishment can readily occur at sites with fine sand substrate and lower wave exposure; however, additional measures may be required at more exposed sites with mobile or hard substrates until seedlings become established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohani Ambo-Rappe
- Marine Science Department, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10 Tamalanrea, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia.
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Gómez-Gast N, López Cuellar MDR, Vergara-Porras B, Vieyra H. Biopackaging Potential Alternatives: Bioplastic Composites of Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Vegetal Fibers. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14061114. [PMID: 35335445 PMCID: PMC8950292 DOI: 10.3390/polym14061114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Initiatives to reduce plastic waste are currently under development worldwide. As a part of it, the European Union and private and public organizations in several countries are designing and implementing regulations for single-use plastics. For example, by 2030, plastic packaging and food containers must be reusable or recyclable. In another approach, researchers are developing biopolymers using biodegradable thermoplastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), to replace fossil derivatives. However, their production capacity, high production costs, and poor mechanical properties hinder the usability of these biopolymers. To overcome these limitations, biomaterials reinforced with natural fibers are acquiring more relevance as the world of bioplastics production is increasing. This review presents an overview of PHA–vegetal fiber composites, the effects of the fiber type, and the production method’s impact on the mechanical, thermal, barrier properties, and biodegradability, all relevant for biopackaging. To acknowledge the behaviors and trends of the biomaterials reinforcement field, we searched for granted patents focusing on bio-packaging applications and gained insight into current industry developments and contributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gómez-Gast
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Carretera Lago de Guadalupe 3.5, Colonia Margarita Maza de Juárez, Atizapán de Zaragoza 52926, Mexico; (N.G.-G.); (B.V.-P.)
| | - Ma Del Rocío López Cuellar
- Cuerpo Académico de Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CABA), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ICAp), Autonomous University of Hidalgo State (UAEH), Av. Universidad Km. 1, Ex-Hda. De Aquetzalpa AP 32, Tulancingo de Bravo 43600, Mexico;
| | - Berenice Vergara-Porras
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Carretera Lago de Guadalupe 3.5, Colonia Margarita Maza de Juárez, Atizapán de Zaragoza 52926, Mexico; (N.G.-G.); (B.V.-P.)
| | - Horacio Vieyra
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Eduardo Monroy Cardenas 2000, San Antonio Buenavista, Toluca de Lerdo 50110, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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Aliotta L, Seggiani M, Lazzeri A, Gigante V, Cinelli P. A Brief Review of Poly (Butylene Succinate) (PBS) and Its Main Copolymers: Synthesis, Blends, Composites, Biodegradability, and Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14040844. [PMID: 35215757 PMCID: PMC8963078 DOI: 10.3390/polym14040844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PBS, an acronym for poly (butylene succinate), is an aliphatic polyester that is attracting increasing attention due to the possibility of bio-based production, as well as its balanced properties, enhanced processability, and excellent biodegradability. This brief review has the aim to provide the status concerning the synthesis, production, thermal, morphological and mechanical properties underlying biodegradation ability, and major applications of PBS and its principal copolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Aliotta
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy; (L.A.); (M.S.); (A.L.)
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Maurizia Seggiani
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy; (L.A.); (M.S.); (A.L.)
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Lazzeri
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy; (L.A.); (M.S.); (A.L.)
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Vito Gigante
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy; (L.A.); (M.S.); (A.L.)
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.G.); (P.C.)
| | - Patrizia Cinelli
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy; (L.A.); (M.S.); (A.L.)
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.G.); (P.C.)
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Temmink RJM, Angelini C, Fivash GS, Swart L, Nouta R, Teunis M, Lengkeek W, Didderen K, Lamers LPM, Bouma TJ, Heide T. Life cycle informed restoration: Engineering settlement substrate material characteristics and structural complexity for reef formation. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J. M. Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Den Burg The Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Gregory S. Fivash
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Laura Swart
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Reinder Nouta
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | | | - Wouter Lengkeek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Bureau Waardenburg Culemborg The Netherlands
| | | | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- B‐WARE Research Centre Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Building with Nature Group HZ University of Applied Sciences Vlissingen The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Den Burg The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
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Li H, Liu J, Che X. Establishing healthy seedlings of Enhalus acoroides for the tropical seagrass restoration. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 286:112200. [PMID: 33611070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Enhalus acoroides, the dominant species in tropical seagrass meadows, is experiencing declines worldwide for complicated reasons and the restoration of these meadows is extremely urgent. Nursery stock grown from the initial seedlings could be used to enhance success of E. acoroides meadow restoration. In this study, the effects of different cultivation methods on the seedling development and longer-term cultivation of E. acoroides were compared using various artificial culture substrates (culturing with sea mud substrate, agar substrate, without a matrix, and using a submerged foam substrate). Results suggested that none of the seedlings showed any sign of root gemination when cultured with sea mud substrate. Though the seedlings cultured with an agar substrate grew faster than those cultured with sea mud, those seedlings could not be cultured further as the agar substrate softened and became rotten after 3 weeks. The initial seedlings cultured in matrix-free seawater germinated with normal leaf growth but no roots developed. In contrast, the initial seedlings planted in holes of a submerged foam substrate grew successfully, developing into healthy seedlings with green leaves and long roots. These seedlings could be cultured for up to 23 weeks. Based on these results, a new, low-cost and labor-efficient method for E. acoroides seedling development was established, which might have a great application potential for efficient E. acoroides seagrass meadows restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 1 Wenhai Road, Aoshanwei Town, Jimo, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jianguo Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 1 Wenhai Road, Aoshanwei Town, Jimo, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Xingkai Che
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 1 Wenhai Road, Aoshanwei Town, Jimo, Qingdao, 266237, China
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9
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Vannini C, Rossi A, Vallerini F, Menicagli V, Seggiani M, Cinelli P, Lardicci C, Balestri E. Microbial communities of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based biodegradable composites plastisphere and of surrounding environmental matrix: a comparison between marine (seabed) and coastal sediments (dune sand) over a long-time scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142814. [PMID: 33129544 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Most researches on the plastisphere in coastal environments deal with plastics floating in seawater. Comparatively smaller attention has been devoted to the plastisphere of plastics buried in marine sediments, and very little is known on that of plastics on coastal sand dunes. Yet, limited information is available on the impact of plastics, especially biodegradable plastics, on microbial organisms in their surroundings. Nevertheless, a large amount of plastics sink on the seabed or is deposited on beach-dune systems. We investigated the succession of plastisphere microbial community on two biodegradable composites based on poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and seagrass fibres (PHBV/PO), buried in seabed and dune sediments over a 27 months period in mesocosm. PHBV is regarded as a valuable alternative to conventional plastics and PHBV/PO has recently been designed for applications in coastal habitat restoration. We also examined the degradation rate and impact of these plastics on the microbial communities of surrounding sediments. Microbial communities of the surface of PHBV and PHBV/PO in seabed and dune sand differ from those of surrounding sediments, displaying a lower richness. Plastics colonization occurs largely from bacteria present in surrounding sediments, although the contribution from the water column bacterial pool could be not negligible for plastics in the seabed. No significant differences were detected between the communities of the two plastics and no significant impact of plastics on microbial community of the surrounding sediments was detected. The exceptional long duration of this study allowed to gain information on the succession of a plastisphere community over a previously unexplored time scale. Succession appears highly dynamic in dune sand even after two years, while the community structure in seabed seems to reach stability after one year. These findings highlight the importance of performing long-term studies when trying to characterize composition and dynamics of plastisphere bacterial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Vannini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy; CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy.
| | - Alessia Rossi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy.
| | | | | | - Maurizia Seggiani
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Cinelli
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy.
| | - Claudio Lardicci
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy.
| | - Elena Balestri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa I-56126, Italy.
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