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A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps
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This systematic review of 84 studies finds that seagrass meadows act as natural traps for microplastics, accumulating higher concentrations in their sediments than surrounding areas. While this filtering role may protect open waters, it raises concerns about the long-term health of these vital coastal ecosystems.
Seagrass meadows are increasingly being recognized as accumulation zones for microplastics. To critically evaluate this role, this systematic review analyzed 84 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2024, identified through the Scopus database using the PRISMA guidelines. These findings indicate that dense seagrass canopies attenuate hydrodynamic forces, and epiphytic biofilms enhance particle adhesion, leading to significantly higher microplastic concentrations in sediments (ranging from 1.3 to 17.6 times) than in adjacent unvegetated areas. This sequestration creates a scenario in which high biodiversity habitats overlap with elevated contaminant exposure, increasing the risk of ingestion by seagrass-associated fauna and facilitating trophic transfer into coastal food webs. However, seagrasses are not permanent sinks; storm-driven resuspension and detritus export can remobilize plastics, making meadows a secondary source. This review emphasizes the dual role of seagrasses as filters and vectors for microplastic pollution. Effective management must conserve these habitats to maintain their filtering function, while urgently addressing plastic inputs at their sources and exploring long-term impacts on seagrass health.
More Papers Like This
A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review of 84 studies finds that seagrass meadows act as natural traps for microplastics, accumulating higher concentrations in their sediments than surrounding areas. While this filtering role may protect open waters, it also means these important coastal ecosystems are bearing a disproportionate burden of plastic pollution.
Seagrass beds acting as a trap of microplastics - Emerging hotspot in the coastal region?
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Seagrass beds in coastal waters were found to trap and accumulate microplastics at higher concentrations than surrounding unvegetated sediments, acting as effective sinks for plastic particles due to their dense canopy structure. This positions seagrass meadows as emerging hotspots of microplastic contamination in coastal ecosystems.
Canopy Accumulation: Are Seagrass Meadows a Sink of Microplastics?
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This meta-analysis investigates whether seagrass meadows accumulate more microplastics than surrounding bare sediments. The findings show that while microplastics are nearly everywhere in coastal sediments, seagrass beds do not concentrate them at higher levels than other areas. However, the widespread contamination is still concerning because many fish species depend on seagrass habitats, creating a pathway for plastics to enter the food chain.
Seagrass under siege: Investigating microplastic effects on seagrass ecosystems
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Researchers reviewed the effects of microplastics on seagrass meadows, which are ecologically critical habitats that also trap and accumulate particulate matter. Evidence suggests microplastics can impair seagrass growth, root function, and associated fauna in these vulnerable ecosystems.
Microplastics in the seagrass ecosystems: A critical review
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This review critically assessed microplastic contamination in seagrass ecosystems worldwide, finding that these nearshore habitats accumulate significant plastic pollution due to their proximity to human activities and the trapping effect of submerged vegetation.
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