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2026 Vol.3, Issue 1

Research Article

Floating microplastic debris as a new ecological niche for pennate diatoms in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Tze'ela Taub1
,
Gi-Young Kim2
,
Matan Oren1*
1Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
2Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2026. pp. 1-7
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Abstract

Marine plastic pollution has created novel ecological niches for microbial colonization, forming a unique ecosystem known as the plastisphere. In this two-year study (2020–2021), we investigated the eukaryotic communities associated with floating microplastics in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS), with a focus on diatoms (Bacillariophyceae). Using 18S rRNA metabarcoding and scanning electron microscopy, we found that diatoms were consistently the most abundant eukaryotes on microplastic surfaces, with significantly higher relative abundances compared to surrounding seawater, particularly in summer. The microplastic-associated diatom assemblages were dominated by raphid pennate taxa, contrasting with the centric diatoms prevalent in the planktonic community. These findings suggest that floating microplastics serve as pelagic microhabitats for benthic-adapted diatoms, expanding their ecological niche. The high diatom biomass on microplastics may influence local biogeochemical processes, including carbon export and particle transport. Understanding the dynamics of diatom colonization on plastics is essential for assessing the broader ecological impacts of microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems.

Keywords
Microplastic
Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Diatoms
Pennate diatoms
Centric diatoms
Pollution
Environmental microbiome
18S rRNA
metabarcoding
Nanopore MinION
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Information
  • Publisher :Jeju Journal of Island Sciences
  • Publisher(Ko) :제주섬과학회지
  • Journal Title :Jeju Journal of Island Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :제주섬과학회지
  • Volume : 3
  • No :1
  • Pages :1-7
  • Received Date : 2024-06-11
  • Revised Date : 2025-08-18
  • Accepted Date : 2025-08-19
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.23264/JJIS.2026.3.1.001
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