Diversity and predicted inter- and intra-domain interactions in the Mediterranean Plastisphere

This study investigated the biogeography, presence and diversity of potentially harmful taxa harbored, potential interactions between within bacterial eukaryotic domains life on plastic debris in Mediterranean. Using a combination high-throughput DNA sequencing (HTS), Causal Network Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), we show regional differences gradients Mediterranean microbial communities associated with marine litter, positive causal effects microbes including life, how these might impact ecosystems surrounding them. Adjacent seas region showed gradient non-overlapping endpoints (Adriatic Ligurian Seas). The largest predicted inter-domain included novel red-algal Plastisphere member its microbiome community. Freshwater samples housed fungi some related to disease-causing microbes. Algal species those responsible for Harmful Blooms (HABs) were also observed pieces members genera not previously reported Plastic Marine Debris (PMD).