Microplastics Provided Habitats for Benthic Microalgae in Fujian Coastal Waters of China

Persistent Microplastics in Ecosystem: The Role of Microalgae-Microplastic Interactions

AI summary · Read the abstract

This review examines interactions between microalgae and microplastics in aquatic environments, focusing on how algae can adsorb, ingest, and respond to plastic particles, and how these interactions affect microplastic persistence and transport. Microalgae form the base of aquatic food webs, so their uptake of microplastics initiates the trophic transfer chain that ultimately delivers plastic particles and associated chemical contaminants to human consumers through seafood.

Microplastics and freshwater microalgae: what do we know so far?

AI summary · Read the abstract

A review of 20 studies found that microplastics inhibit freshwater microalgae growth, reduce photosynthetic activity, alter pigment profiles, and induce oxidative stress, with effects varying by plastic shape, size, concentration, and exposure duration. Because microalgae form the base of aquatic food webs, microplastic-driven disruption of algal communities could have cascading effects on freshwater ecosystem health.

Distribution of Microplastics and Their Effect on the Microalgae Population in the Inshore Waters of the Bay of Bengal

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers studying the Bay of Bengal found that microplastic fibers — primarily nylon — were widespread in coastal waters near Chennai, India, and that higher microplastic concentrations were associated with lower microalgae populations, suggesting plastic pollution may be disrupting the base of the marine food web.

Effects of Microplastic on the Growth and Nutrient Absorption of Microalgae

Microplastic pollution and its impact on marine microbes in Zhanjiang, China

AI summary · Read the abstract

Analysis of offshore sediments near Zhanjiang, China, found microplastics dominated by polyamides, polyurethanes, and polyethylene in the 10–50 micrometer size range, with microbial community diversity and species richness measurably reduced in contaminated areas. Functional prediction analyses indicated that microplastic presence disrupts key microbial processes including nitrogen cycling and respiration, threatening foundational ecosystem services in coastal marine sediments.