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ET&C Best Paper of 2025
Summary
Award-winning research found that a common pesticide and tiny plastic fibers from clothing (microplastics) can each harm the development of baby sunflower sea stars — an endangered ocean species — and the effects may be even worse when both pollutants are present together. While this study looked at sea creatures rather than people, it's a reminder that the pesticides and plastic fibers we use daily are ending up in oceans and potentially harming wildlife in combination, which matters for the health of ecosystems we ultimately depend on.
DOI: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf039 The 2025 Best Paper Award is presented to Alexandra Tissot and colleagues for their article “The effects of imidacloprid and polyester microfibers on the larval development of the endangered sunflower star.” This study stands out for its timely and impactful contribution to our understanding of how multiple anthropogenic stressors affect vulnerable marine species. Focusing on the endangered sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), the authors examine how environmentally relevant levels of two highly relevant anthropogenic stressors, a widely used pesticide and microplastic fibers influence early life stages. Importantly, the work goes beyond single-stressor approaches, studying how combined exposures can shape developmental outcomes. The paper is particularly interesting for its relevance to ongoing conservation and restoration efforts, by specifically focusing on an endangered species that is often not considered in ecotoxicology studies. The results also support conservation efforts where early life-stage survival and larvae settlement are essential for success. By linking contaminant exposure to subtle yet meaningful biological responses at early life stages, this study provides valuable insights for risk assessment and ecosystem management. Overall, this work applies a complex and solid multi-stressor design with clear environmental significance, making it a deserving recipient of the 2025 Best Paper Award. Best Paper Award winner Alexandra G. Tissot.