Effects of different concentrations and types of microplastics on bacteria and fungi in alkaline soil

Abstract

The threat of microplastic (MP) pollution of soil ecosystems has aroused global concern; however, relatively few studies have focused on the effects of MPs on both bacterial and fungal communities in soil. In this study, a 310-day soil incubation experiment was designed to examine the effects of 7% and 14% (W/W) polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs on soil enzyme activities and soil bacterial as well as fungal communities. The findings revealed that all three kinds of MPs stimulated soil enzyme activities, with 14% PVC, 7% PS, and 14% PE having the greatest impact on the activities of catalase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase. MPs did not change the types but the relative abundance of these phyla in soil. MPs mainly increased the abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Ascomycota as well as declined the abundance of Acidobacteria, Basidiomycota, and Chytridiomycota. The response of fungi to MPs was stronger than that of bacteria, and the diversity of fungal communities was more sensitive to the impact of MPs than that of bacterial communities. PVC had the greatest impact on the diversity of microbial communities. PICRUSt analysis revealed that MPs mainly promoted the metabolic function of soil bacteria. Based on the FUNGuid tool, it was found that MPs had significant effects on fungi, which were closely related to plant growth. These results indicate that the impact of MPs on soil microbial communities depends on the type and concentration of MPs and that bacteria and fungi are affected differently by MPs. Future studies could be focused on the different effects of MPs on fungi and bacteria, and what effect will this difference have on plant growth.