We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic-induced modulation of interspecific interactions in microalgae under mono- and co-culture conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) harm algae differently depending on whether the algae are growing alone or alongside other algae species — one type got more damaged specifically when living with a competing species. This matters because algae form the base of aquatic food webs, so plastic pollution's real-world impact on ecosystems (and the food supply that eventually reaches us) may be underestimated by lab studies that only test one species at a time.
Microplastics have been shown to alter physiological processes in microalgae, key primary producers in aquatic systems. Although microalgae rarely exist in isolation, most studies evaluating microplastic toxicity have relied on monoculture systems, limiting insight into how interspecific interactions influence algal responses. In this study, we directly compared the physiological and morphological responses of two green microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris, to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics (1000 mg/L; 20 μm) under mono- and co-culture conditions for six days. Algal responses were assessed using cell density, photosynthetic activity, and cell morphology as key endpoints to evaluate how interspecific interactions modulate species-specific sensitivity to microplastic exposure. HDPE microplastics consistently affected C. reinhardtii regardless of culture conditions, whereas alterations in C. vulgaris were more pronounced under co-culture conditions, indicating enhanced sensitivity under interspecific interactions. Overall, HDPE microplastics disrupted algal biomass and reshaped interspecific interactions under co-culture conditions, highlighting the importance of incorporating interspecific interactions into microplastic toxicity assessments of microalgae.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics affect interspecific interactions between cladoceran species in the absence and presence of predators by triggering asymmetric individual responses
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how microplastics affect the competition between two species of tiny freshwater crustaceans, both with and without a predator present. Microplastics reduced feeding rates and reproduction differently in each species, shifting the competitive balance between them. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could alter species interactions in aquatic ecosystems, potentially changing which organisms thrive and which decline.
Interaction of microplastics and glyphosate: Effects on the freshwater green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how tiny plastic beads and the weed-killer glyphosate affect algae — a key building block of aquatic food chains. Surprisingly, glyphosate alone harmed algae growth and health, but when microplastics were present too, they actually softened some of glyphosate's damage, showing that pollutants can interact in unexpected ways rather than simply adding up. This matters because it means predicting real-world environmental (and eventually human) health risks from pollution requires studying chemicals together, not just one at a time.
The interaction between plastics and microalgae affects community assembly and nutrient availability
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that plastic debris coated with biological growth (biofilm) — but not clean plastic — altered the community composition of microalgae and changed nutrient levels in the surrounding water. This suggests that plastic particles act as rafts carrying organisms between environments, potentially disrupting aquatic ecosystems in ways that have been largely overlooked.
The effect of microplastics on the interspecific competition of Daphnia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how microplastic presence affects interspecific competition between Daphnia species, finding that microplastics can alter competitive outcomes and shift population dynamics between coexisting zooplankton species.
Interactive effects of low-density polyethylene microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on the growth of the freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that microplastics in water can change how toxic a common pollutant (benzo[a]pyrene, found in smoke and oil residue) is to algae, sometimes making it worse and sometimes weaker, depending on how much plastic is present. Since algae help clean up pollution and sit at the bottom of the food chain, this suggests microplastic pollution could unpredictably affect how toxic chemicals move through water ecosystems, and potentially into the food we eat.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.