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Microplastics accelerate carbon mineralization in wetland soils through reed-mediated rhizosphere dissolved organic matter and microbial shifts
Summary
Tiny plastic particles from everyday products are building up in wetland soils, and new research shows they speed up the breakdown of soil carbon, especially when plants like reeds are present, since plant roots seem to help microbes break things down faster. This matters because wetlands are one of nature's best tools for storing carbon and fighting climate change, so if microplastics are causing them to release more CO2 instead of storing it, that could weaken this natural climate defense over time. While this study focused on soil and plants rather than direct human health effects, it adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution can disrupt natural systems we depend on for a stable
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in wetland soils, yet their potential impacts on soil carbon cycling and the role of plants in modulating these effects remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the effects of polypropylene (PP) MPs (0.01 – 0.1 wt%) on soil carbon mineralization in wetland soils, and examined how these responses differed in the presence and absence of reeds ( Phragmites australis ). We found that PP MPs significantly enhanced soil carbon mineralization, with more pronounced CO 2 release observed in planted soils than in unplanted soils, indicating that plant presence altered soil carbon mineralization responses to MPs. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry revealed that MPs simplified dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and increased the proportion of oxidized and bioavailable DOM, particularly in planted soils. These changes were accompanied by significant shifts in microbial community structure and metabolic traits, promoting microbial respiration. Functional gene analyses further showed enhanced abundance of genes associated with key carbon fixation pathways, including the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle and the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway, indicating intensified microbial carbon processing. These findings highlight the importance of plant-mediated rhizosphere processes in modulating the effects of MPs on soil carbon dynamics and provide empirical insights into the mechanisms underlying MPs impacts on wetland biogeochemical processes.