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Invasion of Trifolium repens L. aggravated by biodegradable plastics: adjustable strategy for foraging N and P
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Experiments showed that biodegradable microplastics in soil worsened the invasive spread of white clover (Trifolium repens) by altering how the plant forages for nitrogen and phosphorus.
The invasion of alien plant and the pollution caused by soil microplastics have emerged as significant ecological threats. Recent studies have demonstrated aggravating effect of non-biodegradable microplastics on plant invasion. However, the impact of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) on plant invasion remains unclear. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the impact of BMPs on plant invasion. In this study, a 30-day potting experiment with Trifolium repens L. (an invasive plant) and Oxalis corniculata L. (a native plant) was conducted to evaluate the influence of BMPs on T. repens's invasion. The findings revealed that BMPs results in a reduction in available N and P contents, thereby facilitating the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on T. repens 's roots. Consequently, T. repens adjusted its N and P foraging strategy by increasing P absorption ratio, and enhancing the accumulation of N and P in leaves. This ultimately led to the decrease of relative neighbor effect index of T. repens, indicating an aggravated invasion by T. repens. This study significantly enhances and expands the understanding of mechanisms by which microplastics aggravate plant invasion.
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NO3−-N pulse supply caused by biodegradable plastics exacerbates Trifolium repens L. invasion
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Researchers investigated how biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) exacerbate the invasion of Trifolium repens L. by generating nitrate-nitrogen pulse supply, linking this to enhanced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization and subsequent rhizobia enrichment. The study connects the pulse resource hypothesis to BMP-mediated soil nitrogen dynamics that favor legume invasion.
Microplastics Alter Growth and Reproduction Strategy of Scirpus mariqueter by Modifying Soil Nutrient Availability
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Researchers exposed the coastal wetland plant Scirpus mariqueter to four microplastic types (PP, PE, PS, PET) at three concentrations and found microplastics altered plant biomass, vegetative traits, and reproductive allocation, with PET and PS causing the strongest effects by disrupting soil nutrient availability.
Microplastics amplify the invasive potential of Flavidium bidentis in invaded communities
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Researchers examined how microplastics affect the competitive interactions and invasive potential of Flavidium bidentis in native plant communities, measuring growth traits and interspecific relationships across microplastic exposure treatments. Results indicated that microplastics amplified the invasive advantage of F. bidentis over native species, raising concern that widespread soil microplastic contamination may accelerate plant invasions.
Rhizosphere Keystone Microbiomes Promote Invasive Plant Growth under PLA and PVC Microplastic Stress: A Comparative Study with Native Species
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Researchers compared how invasive and native plant species respond to soil contaminated with biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics. Invasive plants experienced less growth inhibition and selectively enriched beneficial bacteria in their root zones, forming more stable microbial networks. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in soils may inadvertently give invasive species a competitive advantage over native plants.
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