We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
[Response of Relationship Between Microplastic Abundance and Nitrogen Metabolism Function Microorganisms and Genes in Water].
Summary
Researchers investigated the relationship between microplastic abundance and nitrogen-metabolizing microorganisms and genes in Lake Ulansuhai using microscopy and metagenomic sequencing, finding that microplastics in freshwater environments significantly influenced the composition and activity of nitrogen metabolism functional bacteria and associated genes.
The impact of microplastics (MPs) as a new type of pollutant on water pollution has become a research hotspot. To explore the response relationship between the abundance of MPs and nitrogen metabolism function in a freshwater environment, Lake Ulansuhai was used as the research object; the abundance of MPs in the water was detected using a Zeiss microscope, and the distribution characteristics of nitrogen metabolism functional bacteria and functional genes in the water were analyzed using metagenomics sequencing. The correlation analysis method was used to explore the relationship between the abundance of MPs and nitrogen metabolism functional microorganisms and nitrogen metabolism functional genes. The results showed that the presence of MPs in freshwater environments had a higher impact on Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes as the dominant phyla, and the presence of MPs promoted their enrichment and growth. Among the dominant bacterial genera, MPs promoted the growth of Mycobacterium and inhibited Candidatus_Planktopila more significantly, further indicating that in freshwater environments, MPs affected normal nitrogen metabolism by affecting microbial communities, and pathways such as carbon and nitrogen fixation and denitrification were important pathways for MPs to affect nitrogen metabolism. From the perspective of nitrogen metabolism functional genes, it was found that the abundance of MPs significantly affected some functional genes during nitrification (pmoA-amoA, pmoB-amoB, and pmoC-amoC), denitrification (nirK and napA), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction (nrfA) processes (P < 0.05). Moreover, the influence of MPs abundance on different functional genes in the same pathway of nitrogen metabolism varied, making the impact of MPs on aquatic environments very complex; thus, its harm to the water environment cannot be underestimated.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Unveiling microplastic's role in nitrogen cycling: Metagenomic insights from estuarine sediment microcosms
Researchers used metagenomic analysis to examine how polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics affect nitrogen cycling in estuarine sediments. They found that microplastics altered the abundance of genes involved in key nitrogen transformation processes like nitrification and denitrification. The study reveals that microplastic pollution in estuaries may disrupt important biogeochemical cycles that support aquatic ecosystem health.
Effects of microplastics on the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments of a freshwater lake
Researchers examined how microplastics alter the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments, finding that plastic exposure shifted community composition and reduced overall diversity compared to plastic-free controls. Functional analysis showed impaired denitrification and organic matter decomposition in microplastic-contaminated sediments, indicating ecosystem-level consequences for nutrient cycling.
Microplastic biofilms as potential hotspots for plastic biodegradation and nitrogen cycling: a metagenomic perspective
Researchers used genetic analysis to study the microbial communities that form biofilms on different types of microplastics in an estuarine environment. They found that these plastic-associated communities contained genes for both plastic degradation and nitrogen cycling, suggesting the biofilms may play dual roles in the ecosystem. The study indicates that microplastic surfaces in waterways create unique microbial habitats that could influence both pollution breakdown and nutrient processing.
Microplastics Increase the Risk of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Pollution in a Freshwater Lake by Affecting Microbial Function in Biogenic Element Cycling: A Metagenomic Study
Researchers used metagenomic analysis to examine how microplastics affect microbial community function in a freshwater lake, finding that microplastic contamination disrupts biogenic element cycling processes and increases the risk of greenhouse gas emissions and water quality degradation.
Seasonal changes in N-cycling functional genes in sediments and their influencing factors in a typical eutrophic shallow lake, China
This study tracked seasonal changes in nitrogen-cycling bacteria in the sediments of a nutrient-rich lake in China, finding that key microbial processes shifted significantly between warmer and colder months. While focused on lake ecology rather than microplastics directly, the research is relevant because microplastics in lake sediments are known to alter microbial communities and nitrogen cycling processes. Understanding these baseline patterns helps scientists assess how microplastic contamination may further disrupt nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems.