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Effects of microplastics on coastal planktonic community
Summary
This book chapter reviews how microplastics affect coastal phytoplankton communities, covering physical clogging, chemical toxicity, and disruption of photosynthesis and cell division across diatoms, dinoflagellates, and cyanobacteria. Since phytoplankton form the base of marine food webs and produce roughly half of Earth's oxygen, widespread microplastic-driven decline in these communities would have cascading consequences for ocean ecosystems and global climate.
Phytoplankton , comprising diverse groups such as diatoms, dinoflagellates , and cyanobacteria play a pivotal role in marine food webs and global carbon cycling. These phytoplankton communities face constant challenges including climate change , nutrient pollution, ocean acidification , and other anthropogenic activities with a significant consequence on phytoplankton decline in marine ecosystems . Transitioning to the issue of plastic pollution , the chapter highlights the severity of the global plastic problem, focusing on microplastics (MPs) with a diameter of less than 5 mm. A comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationships between phytoplankton, the foundational organisms in marine ecosystems , and MPs, a pervasive environmental pollutant is elaborated. It categorizes the size-dependent effects of MPs on marine ecosystems, emphasizing their potential for bioaccumulation and interference with feeding mechanisms in aquatic organisms . Furthermore, an overview of the reported toxic effects of chemical additives from MPs on phytoplankton, focusing on inhibiting photosynthesis and disruptions in cellular processes is presented. The repercussions extend across various ecological aspects, such as disruptions in the food chain, impacts on fisheries, alterations in oxygen production, changes in carbon sequestration , and shifts in nutrient cycling. Additionally, the economic ramifications of phytoplankton loss for industries like fisheries and tourism are discussed. In conclusion, this book chapter synthesizes current knowledge on the multifaceted interactions between phytoplankton and MPs, shedding light on their ecological implications and providing a foundation for future research endeavors.
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