| Summary: | We conducted a mesocosm experiment to examine how ocean acidification (OA) affects communities of prokaryotes and eukaryotes growing on single-use drinking bottles in subtropical eutrophic waters of the East China Sea. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequencing, simulated high CO2 significantly altered the prokaryotic community, with the relative abundance of the phylum Planctomycetota increasing by 49 % under high CO2. Under high CO2, prokaryotes in plastisphere significantly enhanced nitrogen dissimilation and ureolysis, raising the possibility that elevated CO2 may modify nutrient cycling in subtropical eutrophic waters. The relative abundance of pathogenic and animal parasite bacteria also increased under simulated high CO2. Our results show that simulated high CO2 significantly affected some secondary producers based on 18S rDNA gene sequencing. For example, Mayorella amoebae were highly resistant to OA whereas labyrinthulids were sensitive to high CO2. This shows that OA may alter plastisphere food chains in subtropical eutrophic waters.
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