PLASTIC-ASSOCIATED HARMFUL MICROALGAL ASSEMBLAGES IN MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Plastic debris carry fouling a variety of class-size organisms, among them harmful microorganisms that potentially play a role in the dispersal of allochthonous species and toxic compounds with ecological impacts on the marine environment and human health. Samples of marine plastics floating at the sea surface were analysed using a molecular quantification assay. This study reports the first evaluations of microalgae, including toxin producing species, that can colonize plastics using molecular qPCR assay.