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Microplastic covered by biofilm comprised of a bacterium (in blue), observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere. Some of these micro-organisms may be pathogenic.

Microplastic with a diatom (in green) observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Microplastic covered by bacterial communities observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. This polyethylene debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. Researchers are wondering whether these bacteria can metabolise the plastic. Polyethylene however is known for not being readily biodegradable.

Diatom attached to a microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated,

Plastic debris so colonised by a bacterial community as to be almost entirely covered by biofilm. Microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere. Some…

1 mm microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The size is typical of the plastic debris collected at sea. Plastic waste breaks up into very small pieces. Such plastic debris is extensively colonised. Plastic will float in the sea for many, many years and will travel several thousand…

Microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. The biofilm that develops on the plastic is shown in colour. The largest objects are the diatoms. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the…

Microplastic colonised by a bacterial community known as biofilm observed by scanning electron microscopy. The image is colourised. The biofilm that develops on the plastic is shown in colour. The largest objects are the diatoms. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in…

Microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. This minute piece of debris measures less than one cubic millimetre. The size is typical of the plastic debris collected in the gyre.

Microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. Several diatoms are visible covered by a biofilm. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere.

Traces of micro-organisms attached to the surface of microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Biofilm and erosion observed by scanning electron microscopy on the surface of microplastic debris. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere.

Microplastic observed by scanning electron microscopy. A diatom can be seen in the foreground. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Plastic debris observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Diatom attached to the surface of microplastic debris observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Diatom attached to the surface of microplastic debris observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic debris was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated.

Biofilm found on microplastic debris observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected during the May 2014 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere.

Spherical diatom in a biofilm on microplastic debris observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected during the May 2014 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere.

Biofilm and erosion observed by scanning electron microscopy on the surface of microplastic debris. This plastic was collected in May 2014 during the 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere.

Diatoms and biofilm attached to the surface of microplastic debris observed by scanning electron microscopy. This plastic was collected during the May 2014 7th Continent expedition to the North Atlantic ocean gyre, where a vast mass of floating plastic waste has accumulated. Several diatoms are visible covered by a biofilm. The biofilm here is a bacterial community which has developed on plastic debris floating in the sea; this debris has been called the plastisphere.