Biofilms on plastic litter in an urban river: Community composition and activity vary by substrate type

Published: 26 February 2024| Version 1 | DOI: 10.17632/w56k7gdgtc.1
Contributor:
Raul Lazcano

Description

This dataset represent biofilm activity measured on plastic and wood substrates. We incubated three plastics of distinct textures that are buoyant in rivers, low-density polyethylene (rigid; 1.7 mm thick), low-density polyethylene film (flexible; 0.0254 mm thick), and foamed polystyrene (brittle; 6.5 mm thick), as well as wood substrates (untreated oak veneer; 0.6 mm thick) in the Chicago River. Each material was incubated at three sizes (1, 7.5, and 15 cm2). Substrates were incubated at 2-10 cm depths and removed weekly for six weeks. On each substrate, we measured chlorophyll concentration, biofilm biomass, respiration, and flux of nitrogen gas. Chlorophyll, biomass, and N2 flux were similar across substrates, but respiration was greater on wood than plastics. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of substrate on biofilm characteristics, and the ecological impacts of plastic pollution on urban rivers.

Files

Steps to reproduce

All analyses are described in Lazcano et al. 2024, which may be accessed through the link provided.

Institutions

Loyola University Chicago

Categories

Biogeochemistry, Microbial Ecology, Freshwater Ecology, Litter, Anthropocene

Funding

National Science Foundation

CAREER1552825

Licence