One of the major challenges in understanding the dynamics of the ocean’s health and functioning is the potential impact of the increasing presence of plastic. Besides the verified and macroscopic effects on marine wildlife and habitats, micro and macroplastics offer potential sites for microbial activity and chemical leaching. Most marine plastic is found initially in the upper meters of the water column, where fundamental biogeochemical processes drive marine productivity and food web dynamics. However, recent findings show a continuum of potential effects of these new marine components on carbon, nutrients and microbial processes. In the present analysis, we develop a common ground between these studies and we identify knowledge gaps where new research efforts should be focused to better determine potential feedbacks of plastics on the carbon biogeochemistry of a changing ocean.

理解海洋健康和功能动态的主要挑战之一是塑料日益增多的潜在影响。除了对海洋野生动植物和栖息地的经过验证的宏观影响外，微量和大分子塑料还为微生物活动和化学浸出提供了潜在的场所。大多数海洋塑料最初发现于水柱的上部，在那里基本的生物地球化学过程驱动海洋生产力和食物网动态。但是，最近的发现表明，这些新的海洋成分对碳，养分和微生物过程的潜在影响是连续的。在目前的分析中，