Evaluation of the coast region of Davutlar- Kuşadasi public beach in Aydin province in terms of microplastic pollution

Objective: In this study, the seasonal determination of the microplastic number, shape and color distribution obtained from coastal sea water and beach sand samples from 5 different stations in the Davutlar-Kuşadası coastal area within the borders of Aydın Province and the determination of microplastics, beach sand, pathogenic and non-pathogenic from coastal sea water. It was aimed to isolate bacteria, to determine the rate of degradation of microplastics by isolated bacteria and to create a culture collection. Material and Methods: Bacteria isolated from coastal sea water, beach sand and microplastics taken in accordance with aseptic conditions in November, February, May and August were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Results: A total of 1.796,8 pieces/kg of microplastics were obtained seasonally. Of the materials, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas anguilliseptica, Brevibacterium sp. L8, Enterobacter hormaechei, Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus warneri, Bacillus safensis, Shigella sp. CH-42, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio alginolyticus, Aeromonas caviae, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Priestia megaterium, Rhizobium pusense, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Stutzerimonas stutzeri, Acinetobacter baumannii, Zobellella taiwanensis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus pasteuri, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus velezensis, Arthrobacter sp, Pantoea agglomerans, Micrococcus yunnanensis,, Bacillus sp, Priestia endophytica, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus safensis, Exiguobacterium profundum, Bacillus subtilis a total of 60 pathogenic bacteria and non-pathogenic were identified. The roles of isolated bacteria in microplastic degradation were pre-screened and the degradation rates of bacteria degrading microplastics were determined. FTIR and SEM analyzes of the microplastic with the highest number were performed. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it was determined that 19 isolates from 60 bacterial species identified had the ability to degrade Polyethylene (PE) polymer.