Plastisphere: The Ecosystem of Plastics

The plastisphere provides a unique man-made habitat for organisms and microbial communities. Investigating the interactions and functions of these organisms helps us understand how fouling communities can settle on these novel platforms and be moved beyond their natural ranges as well as their contribution to nutrient cycling and biogeochemical processes. This book examines the plastisphere and reveals a secret world of microbes that have adapted to live on plastic surfaces. It explains the ecological effects of plastic pollution, human health concerns, microbial ecology, and mitigation techniques and advocates sustainable solutions. Readers will dive into this enthralling ecosystem rich with microscopic life and explore its mysteries in this thought-provoking book. Features: Presents recent insights into the fundamentals of the plastisphere, with a specific focus on environmental interactions. Introduces the work of global experts and their ongoing studies, creative approaches, and new discoveries. Highlights the macro and molecular interactions of environmental domains with the plastisphere. Explores the notion of bioinvasion that can threaten the health and productivity of our ecosystems. Includes detailed multidisciplinary data on the behavior of plastic materials and environmental microbiome. Explains the main factors causing ecosystems to evolve and to live in human-made plastic environments. Helps readers from various backgrounds to gain a thorough understanding of the topic of the plastisphere. This book is an insightful reference for researchers, academics, students, and professionals in Environmental Science, Microbiology, Environmental Engineering, Oceanography, and Material Science.