# Microbial Life on the Surface of Microlgistics in Natural Waters
## 7 Role Microorganisms of Degradation of Plastic
So, the possibility of specific selection of bacterial strains able to break down the microplastic and use it as a source of nutrients in microplastic-associated assemblages was suggested [94]. The data according to occurrence of bacteria belonging to some genera and families in the biofilms covered microplastics which were found in different geographic zones, and the ability of representatives of these genera and families to biodegradable plastic materials or hydrocarbons, are shown in Table 2.  
An interesting fact is that marine deuteromycete _Zalerion martimum_ can use polyethylene as substrate and has been considered as a potential biodegrader [137]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Microorganisms** & **Type of Plastic, Location** & **Ref.** & **Microorganisms** & **Degrade Plastics or Hydrocarbons** & **Ref.** \\ \hline _Pseudomonas_ & MP, WWTP, Illinois, USA & [94] & _Pseudomonas_ & PAHs & [111] \\ _Pseudomonas_ & acryl & _Pseudomonas_ & PE & [114] \\ _Pseudomonas_ & MP, river, Chicago, USA & [73] & _Pseudomonas_ & Polyester & [115] \\ _Pseudomonas cepacia_ & PE, Ps, Lake Nakuru, Kenya & [107] & _Pseudomonas cepacia_ & Plastic & [107] \\ _Pseudomonas_ & PVC, water from Haile & [116] & _Pseudomonas aeruginosa_ & PET, PS & [117] \\ _Pseudomonas_ & MP, the Singapore Strait & [118] & _Pseudomonas aeruginosa_ & PE & [119] \\ _Pseudomonas_ & PE, PS, Baltic Sea & [120] & _Pseudomonas fluorescens_ & PE & [121] \\ _Sphingomonas_ & MP, WWTP, Illinois, USA & [94] & _Sphingomonas_ & DMT & [112] \\ _Sphingomonas_ & PE, Ps, Lake Nakuru, Kenya & [107] & _Sphingomonas_ & Ps, PE & [107] \\ _Sphingomonadaceae_ & PE, PS, Baltic Sea & [120] & _Sphingomonadaceae_ & hydrocarbons & [122] \\ _Erythrobacter_ & PS, PE, Baltic Sea & [86] & _Erythrobacter_ & PAHs & [123] \\ _Erythrobacter_ & Ps, Mediterranean Sea & [89,124] & _Erythrobacter_ & hydrocarbons & [125] \\ _Erythrobacter_ & MP, the Singapore Strait & [118] & _Erythrobacter_ & hydrocarbons & [118] \\ _Hyphomonadaceae_ & Ps, the North Atlantic & [80] & _Hyphomonadaceae_ & hydrocarbons & [126] \\ _Klebsiella_ & MP, WWTP, Illinois, USA & [94] & _HDPE_ & [113] \\ _Rhodobacteraceae_ & Ps, North Atlantic & [80] & _Rhodococcus_ & PE & [127] \\ _Rhodobacteraceae_ & Ps, North Sea & [75] & _Rhodobacteraceae_ & hydrocarbons & [128] \\ _Rhodobacterales_ & PVC, Pacific Ocean & [129] & _Rhodococcus_ & PS & [130] \\ _Rhodobacteraceae_ & PE, PP, PS, Mediterranean Sea & [71] & _Rhodococcus ruber_ C208 & PE & [108] \\ _Alalignes_ & SP. & PE, Ps, Lake Nakuru, Kenya & [107] & _Alalignes_ & PE & [107] \\ _Alalignes faecalis_ & Polymeric materials, WWTP & [131] & _Alalignes faecalis_ & PCL & [132] \\ _Olebacter_ & Ps, coastal marine & [67] & _Olebacter_ & hydrocarbons & [109,110] \\ _Arcobacter_ & LDPE, Humber Estuary, UK & [97] & _Arcobacter_ & hydrocarbons & [133] \\ _Colwellia_ & LDPE, Humber Estuary, UK & [97] & _Colwellia_ & hydrocarbons & [128,134] \\ _Arthobacter_ & sp. & LDPE, HDPE & [81,136] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* MP—microplasics; Ps—plasics; PE—polyethylene (polythene); PP—polystyrene; PET—polyethylene (erephthalate; PVC—polyvinyl chloride; DMT—dimethyl) [rephthalate; PAHs—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PCL—polycaprolactone; LDPE—low-density polyethylene microplastics; HDPE—high- density polyethylene microplastics.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Microorganisms found abundant on microplastics and the ability of representatives of these genera to degrade plastic or hydrocarbons.