Abstract
Polyethylene film is one of the most common types of recalcitrant plastic waste materials. Information regarding the fate of plastic films in soil is scarce compared to the fate of plastic films in aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil fauna and of impregnation of polyethylene films with oil on the colonization of low-density polyethylene films by prokaryotic communities. The field experiment was performed in a monsoon tropical forest (Vietnam). Polyethylene films were incubated in thermally pre-defaunated soil isolated from the surrounding soil by a stainless steel mesh. Three mesh sizes were used, allowing access to different size groups of soil fauna. The diversity, taxonomic structure and co-occurrence patterns in prokaryotic communities were studied using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene libraries. The prokaryotic communities that formed on polyethylene films were slightly different from those inhabiting the surrounding soil. Contrary to our expectations, no difference in the diversity of prokaryotes was observed between microcosms with different mesh sizes. Oil impregnation also had only a minor influence on the prokaryotic community structure. Polyethylene films incubated in microcosms with soil appeared to be colonized by various consortia of prokaryotes as a barren and inert surface.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
