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A review of antibiotic accumulation, degradation and ecological risk in typical mangrove ecosystems
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This bibliometric and meta-analysis review synthesizes research on antibiotic accumulation and degradation in mangrove ecosystems, finding that sediment properties drive antibiotic buildup while specific bacteria mediate biodegradation — a balance further disrupted by co-contaminants such as microplastics and heavy metals. The review warns that antibiotic contamination in mangroves promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and disrupts essential ecosystem functions like carbon and nitrogen cycling.
Mangrove ecosystems, characterized by unique biogeochemical conditions, act as critical zones for intercepting and processing antibiotic contaminants. This study synthesizes existing research using bibliometric and meta-analysis to elucidate the mechanisms of antibiotic accumulation, degradation, and associated ecological risks in mangroves. A central finding from the meta-analysis is the lack of a significant difference in antibiotic concentrations between mangrove forests and adjacent intertidal mudflats, highlighting the complex balance between competing accumulation and degradation processes. The major points are the following: 1) Sediment properties (e.g., texture, organic matter) are primary drivers of antibiotic accumulation; 2) Specific bacterial taxa (e.g., Proteobacteria, Achromobacter) of mangroves mediate antibiotic biodegradation through enzymatic and co-metabolic pathways. The degradation efficiency is further modulated by environmental factors, including salinity, temperature, oxygen availability, moisture, and the presence of co-contaminants such as heavy metals and microplastics; 3) Antibiotic contamination disrupts essential ecological functions (e.g., carbon and nitrogen cycling, water purification) and promotes the propagation of ARGs within mangrove ecosystems, thereby triggering cascading ecological risks within mangrove ecosystems. This review underscores the need for stricter pollution control and calls for research on the combined effects of multiple contaminants to guide mangrove conservation and sustainable management.
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Microplastics accumulation in mangroves increasing the resistance of its colonization Vibrio and Shewanella
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Researchers found that microplastics accumulating in mangrove sediments harbored antibiotic-resistant bacteria, predominantly Vibrio parahemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Shewanella, with 100% of mangrove isolates showing elevated resistance. The study highlights microplastics as ecological colonization sites that may amplify antibiotic resistance risks in coastal ecosystems.
Mangrove plastisphere as a hotspot for high-risk antibiotic resistance genes and pathogens
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This study found that microplastics in mangrove ecosystems serve as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes and disease-causing bacteria. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC surfaces incubated in mangrove sediments harbored significantly more high-risk resistance genes than the surrounding environment. This is concerning because mangroves are important coastal habitats, and microplastics there could help spread drug-resistant infections to wildlife and potentially to humans.
Impact of the surrounding environment on antibiotic resistance genes carried by microplastics in mangroves
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Researchers buried five plastic types in mangrove ecosystems with different surrounding environments and used qPCR to quantify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) on the plastic surfaces, finding higher ARG abundance in urban mangroves than in protected or aquaculture areas. Polypropylene and HDPE were preferred substrates for ARG-carrying bacteria, and proximity to human activities was the main driver of ARG distribution.
A review on microplastic pollution in the mangrove wetlands and microbial strategies for its remediation
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Researchers reviewed the growing problem of microplastic pollution in mangrove wetland ecosystems and its effects on the biological communities that depend on these habitats. They found that microplastic exposure can substantially alter the microbial communities critical to nutrient cycling in mangrove environments. The review also explores microbial bioremediation strategies as a sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution in these threatened coastal ecosystems.
An Examination of the Current Knowledge of Contaminants in Mangroves: Hawaii and Globally
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This thesis comprehensively reviews contamination in mangrove ecosystems globally and in Hawaii, covering heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, PAHs, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics as one of four main contaminant classes. The review identifies significant research gaps around how these pollutants affect mangrove biodiversity and pose risks to human populations, particularly as mangrove ranges shift with climate change. Understanding contaminant dynamics in mangroves matters because these ecosystems are used for fishing and coastal food production worldwide.
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