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Microplastic diversity stimulates N2O emission during NO3−-N transformation by altering microbial interaction and electron consumption in eutrophic water
Summary
Researchers examined how mixtures of different microplastic types in eutrophic water bodies affect nitrous oxide emissions during nitrogen transformation. They found that greater microplastic diversity significantly increased N2O emissions by altering microbial community interactions and electron transfer processes. The study suggests that the combined presence of multiple microplastic types may amplify their environmental impact on greenhouse gas emissions from water systems.
Microplastic mixtures, consisting of various types, are widespread in aquatic ecosystems. However, the role of microplastic diversity in influencing NO emission during NO-N transformation remains unclear, particularly in eutrophic water bodies. To address this, we established 10 microcosms with microplastic diversity of 0, 1, 3, and 5 and explored the effects of microplastic diversity on NO-N transformation, NO emission, microbial communities, co-occurrence networks, and electron transfer. Results showed that microplastic diversity slightly impacted NO-N transformation rates, but remarkably enhanced NO emission. Although elevated microplastic diversity caused notable variations in microbial community, bacterial abundance had insignificant correlations with NO-N transformation or NO emission rates. Notably, the increased microplastic diversity made microbial networks more complex and stable, indirectly promoting NO emission by altering electron transfer and consumption during NO-N transformation. Especially, electron consumption had the most direct effect on NO emission. Furthermore, the increasing microplastic diversity slightly affected NOR activity, while significantly decreasing NOS activity and raising (nirK+nirS)/nosZ ratio, which suggested that microplastic diversity primarily enhanced NO emission by inhibiting its further reduction. Our findings provide deeper insight into the nitrogen transformation and greenhouse gas emission influenced by microplastic mixtures in eutrophic aquatic environments.