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Dual impacts of elevated pCO2 on the ecological effects induced by microplastics and nanoplastics: A study with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
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Researchers examined how freshwater acidification from elevated carbon dioxide interacts with polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics to affect a common green algae species. They found that smaller nanoplastics caused greater harm than larger microplastics, primarily through oxidative stress, while acidification alone actually promoted algal growth. The study reveals that climate change and plastic pollution can interact in unexpected ways, with acidification sometimes masking or modifying the toxic effects of plastic particles.
Aquatic organisms face increased complexity and severity when exposed to the combined stressors of climate change and micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), as opposed to facing these stressors individually. This study examined the effects and underlying mechanisms of elevated pCO, which leads to freshwater acidification, as well as amino-modified polystyrene MNPs (PS-NH MNPs) of varying sizes (5 μm, 300 nm, 80 nm), on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under both individual and combined conditions. The results showed a size-dependent toxicity of PS MNPs, with the smaller nanoparticles (80 nm) causing greater toxic inhibition than the larger microparticles (5 μm and 300 nm), primarily attributed to oxidative stress-related cellular damage. In contrast, freshwater acidification (FA) appeared to promote the growth of C. reinhardtii, possibly by upregulating transcripts associated with energy metabolism. However, when C. reinhardtii was exposed to both FA and MNPs simultaneously, distinct toxic effects were observed. The co-exposure to FA and NPs induced the most severe oxidative stress, implying the greatest energetic cost. This stress resulted in the downregulation of pathways involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and protein folding, ultimately causing significant damage to cellular structure and function. The increased energy from the upregulation of the TCA cycle was mainly allocated for DNA damage repair and cell division, which induced an energy deficit necessary for stress resistance. In contrast, during co-exposure to FA and MPs, energy was redirected towards DNA replication and the synthesis of anti-stress substances, facilitating recovery and promoting growth. Our study highlighted the decisive influence of climate change and particle size in assessing the ecological effects and risks associated with MNPs.
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Using high-throughput screening of a freshwater green alga, researchers tested how nanoplastics interact with multiple climate change stressors (temperature, CO2, pH, UV), finding that nanoplastics combined with warming or UV caused greater harm than either alone, and that climate change will likely amplify nanoplastic toxicity.
Elevated pCO2 alleviates the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on the marine microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica
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Researchers found that simulated ocean acidification (elevated CO2) significantly reduced the toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles to the marine microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica, likely because acidic conditions caused nanoparticles to aggregate into larger, less bioavailable clusters and promoted ribosomal protein synthesis that helped cells cope with nanoparticle stress.
Impacts of microplastic and seawater acidification on unicellular red algae: Growth response, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymes, and extracellular polymer substances
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Researchers examined the individual and combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and seawater acidification on unicellular red algae, which play an important role in marine primary production. They measured impacts on growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, and extracellular polymer production. The study found that the combined stressors had more pronounced effects than either one alone, suggesting that ocean acidification may worsen the ecological impact of microplastic pollution on marine algae.
Warming and microplastic pollution shape the carbon and nitrogen cycles of algae
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Researchers investigated how ocean warming combined with microplastic pollution affects carbon and nitrogen cycling in marine diatoms and dinoflagellates, revealing that these combined stressors alter key biochemical processes in dominant phytoplankton species.
Altered Biological Responses of Primary Producers to Multiple Stressors in the Presence of Nanoplastics
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This thesis investigated how nanoplastics interact with other environmental stressors — including elevated CO2, temperature, and light — to affect freshwater algae and cyanobacteria. The results show that nanoplastics can alter how aquatic plants respond to climate change, potentially disrupting the base of freshwater food webs.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.