Progress in the Impact of Plankton and Microplastics on the Transport and Fate of Marine Oil Spills

Following oil spill incidents, surface oil undergoes complex migration and transformation in the water column due to physical and biological actions. Various zooplankton and phytoplankton, along with bacteria and microplastics, collide with dispersed oil droplets under wave-induced turbulence, leading to the formation of aggregates or agglomerates. These aggregates/agglomerates may remain suspended in the water column or settle on the seafloor. Zooplankton ingest oil droplets and subsequently excrete them as fecal pellets, encapsulating the oil. Phytoplankton and bacteria facilitate the aggregation of oil with suspended particulate matter via secreted mucus; additionally, bacteria degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, thereby reducing oil concentrations. Microplastics adhere to oildroplets through intermolecular forces, contributing to the formation of agglomerates. This paper summarizes the current status of research on the transport and fate of marine oil spill by zooplankton and phytoplankton, bacteria, and microplastics, which can support subsequent studies of oil behavior and fate in the ocean.