We carried out a three-time-point (one week, four weeks and eight weeks) incubation experiment and investigated the colonization dynamics of five different microplastic pellets (polyethylene, PE polystyrene, PS polypropylene, PP polyvinyl chloride, PVC and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ABS) in the coastal seawater of South China Sea. We found that incubation time, polymer type and enviromental factors could affect the microbial community structure.