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Distinct impacts of microplastics on the carbon sequestration capacity of coastal blue carbon ecosystems: A case of seagrass beds

Marine Environmental Research 2024 6 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Xin Hou, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xin Hou, Changjun Li, Xin Hou, Xin Hou, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Xin Hou, Xianhua Liu Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Wentao Li, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Wentao Li, Yong Zhao, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Yike He, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Yike He, Yike He, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xin Hou, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Yike He, Wentao Li, Wentao Li, Wentao Li, Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Wentao Li, Xiaotong Wang, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Wentao Li, Xianhua Liu Wentao Li, Wentao Li, Wentao Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Wentao Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xiaotong Wang, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Changjun Li, Changjun Li, Xiaotong Wang, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xiaotong Wang, Changjun Li, Xianhua Liu Xianhua Liu Xiaotong Wang, Xianhua Liu

Summary

Researchers examined how microplastic pollution affects the ability of seagrass beds to capture and store carbon, a process important for combating climate change. Evidence indicates that microplastics can alter sediment properties, disrupt microbial communities, and inhibit seagrass growth, all of which reduce carbon storage capacity. The study highlights that microplastic contamination may be undermining one of nature's key tools for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Seagrass beds, as an important coastal blue carbon ecosystem, are excellent at storing organic carbon and mitigating the impacts of global climate change. However, seagrass beds are under threat due to increased human activities and ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in marine environments. Bibliometric analysis shows that the distribution and accumulation of microplastics in seagrass beds has been widely documented worldwide, but their impacts on seagrass beds, particularly on carbon sequestration capacity, have not been given sufficient attention. This review aims to outline the potential impacts of MPs on the carbon sequestration capacity of seagrass ecosystems across five key aspects: (1) MPs act as sources of organic carbon, contributing to direct pollution in seagrass ecosystems; (2) Impacts of MPs on seagrasses and their epiphytic algae, affecting plant growth and net primary productivity; (3) Impacts of MPs on microorganisms, influencing production of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon and greenhouse gas; (4) Impacts of MPs on seagrass sediments, altering the quality, structure, properties and decomposition processes of plant litters; (5) Other complex impacts on the seagrass ecosystems, depending on different behaviors of MPs. Latest progress in these fields are summarized and recommendations for future work are discussed. This review can provide valuable insights to facilitate future multidisciplinary investigations and encourage society-wide implementation of effective conservation measures to enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of seagrass beds.

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