Welcome to the ‘plastisphere’: the synthetic ecosystem evolving at sea

A variety of bacteria, fungi, and other larger marine organisms have colonized ocean plastics in what is now being called the “plastisphere,” or the first known ecosystem created by humans and our vast consumption of plastic.
Research into the plastisphere holds insights into how these plastic-colonizing organisms may “evolve in such a way that bacteria would essentially eat it, or at least help us identify ways to break down our plastic waste.” With global efforts to learn how to mitigate plastic pollution, these organisms may hold the key.