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Combined effects of microplastics contamination and marine heatwaves on carbon cycling in coastal marine sediments
Summary
Researchers conducted a 21-day manipulative experiment to test the combined effects of microplastic contamination and simulated marine heatwave conditions on carbon cycling in temperate coastal marine sediments, measuring changes in organic matter quantity, composition, and carbon degradation rates. They found that the simultaneous occurrence of microplastics and elevated temperatures produced distinct effects on sedimentary organic matter processing compared to either stressor alone.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most relevant anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment. Microplastics (MPs) pollution and global warming are usually considered and studies as separated threads, while in reality they are closely related. A significant manifestation of heat accumulation on Earth is represented by marine heatwaves (MHWs), which are positive and persistent sea surface temperature anomalies (SST). Previously, it has been documented that either MPs or MHWs have the potential to affect carbon cycling, but effects deriving from the contemporary occurrence of these phenomenon are still unknown. To fulfill this knowledge gap, we conducted a short-term manipulative experiment (21 days) on temperate coastal marine sediments. We tested for possible effects on sedimentary organic matter (OM) quantity, composition, and C degradation rates. We exposed sediments to 0.05 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559084/document