At the 29th AIOL Congress, Serena Scozzafava, a research fellow at CRIMAC – the Centre for Advanced Marine Research and Infrastructure in Calabria at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – presented an annual study on the colonisation of conventional plastic and Mater-Bi® bioplastic substrates by diatoms.
Diatoms are single-celled microalgae that play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems, as they produce oxygen and form the basis of the food chain.
Observations carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that both polymers are colonised by benthic diatoms, with a higher abundance on the bioplastic, particularly during the warmer months.
The study represents a step forward in our understanding of the plastosphere – the community of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that thrive on the surface of plastic – by highlighting the ecological role of microalgae on artificial substrates.
These findings provide valuable insights for the development of coastal management strategies and for assessing the impact of plastics (including biodegradable plastics) on marine ecosystems.
Poster supervised by Dr Chiara Pennesi and Dr Chiara Giommi – Project tutor: Dr Teresa Romeo
