The plastisphere microbiome in alpine soils alters the microbial genetic potential for plastic degradation and biogeochemical cycling

Rüthi, Joel; Rast, Basil M; Qi, Weihong; Perez-Mon, Carla; Pardi-Comensoli, Lucrezia; Brunner, Ivano; Frey, Beat

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129941

Citations

Citation copied

Rüthi, J., Rast, B. M., Qi, W., Perez-Mon, C., Pardi-Comensoli, L., Brunner, I., & Frey, B. (2023). The plastisphere microbiome in alpine soils alters the microbial genetic potential for plastic degradation and biogeochemical cycling. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 441, 129941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129941

Abstract

Plastic is exceedingly abundant in soils, but little is known about its ecological consequences for soil microbiome functioning. Here we report the impacts of polyethylene and biodegradable Ecovio and BI-OPL plastic films buried in alpine soils for 5 months on the genetic potential of the soil microbiome using shotgun metagenomics. The microbiome was more affected by Ecovio and BI-OPL than by polyethylene. Fungi, α- and β-Proteobacteria dominated on the biodegradable films. Ecovio and BI-OPL showed signs of degradation after the incub