Microplastics and their interaction with microorganisms in Bosten Lake water

Micro and Nanoplastics: Effect on Lentic Ecosystem

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Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics affect still-water ecosystems like lakes and ponds, where plastics can accumulate over time and disrupt aquatic organisms at the base of the food chain. These effects may ultimately impact water quality and the fish and wildlife that humans rely on.

Comparison of freshwater microbial communities in water and microplastics surfaces: insights from Dongting Lake, China

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Researchers comparing bacterial communities in open water versus microplastic surfaces in Dongting Lake, China found that plastic surfaces selectively enriched Proteobacteria and harbored potentially pathogenic genera including Pantoea and Pseudomonas not dominant in surrounding water. The plastisphere — the microbial community colonizing plastic particles — acts as a dispersal vehicle for pathogens, representing an underappreciated biological dimension of microplastic pollution with direct implications for freshwater quality and public health.

Influence of microplastic on the aquatic ecosystem

Microplastics and freshwater microalgae: what do we know so far?

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A review of 20 studies found that microplastics inhibit freshwater microalgae growth, reduce photosynthetic activity, alter pigment profiles, and induce oxidative stress, with effects varying by plastic shape, size, concentration, and exposure duration. Because microalgae form the base of aquatic food webs, microplastic-driven disruption of algal communities could have cascading effects on freshwater ecosystem health.

Microplastics in Freshwater Environments: Sources, Behaviour, and Ecotoxicity

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Researchers reviewed sources, transport behavior, and ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, finding that rivers and lakes are both pathways and sinks for plastic particles and that biological effects on freshwater organisms remain poorly characterized compared to marine systems.