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Impacts of plastic surface on the periphyton under different nutrient and temperature: A mesocosm experiment
Summary
This mesocosm experiment investigated how microplastics affect periphyton (biofilm communities that grow on surfaces in water) under different nutrient levels and temperatures. Microplastics altered periphyton development in ways that could affect oxygen production and the feeding of organisms that graze on biofilm, with potential ripple effects throughout aquatic food webs.
The present study investigates the role of microplastics as substrates for periphyton development. Withinaquatic ecosystems. Environmental factors including nutrient availability, pH, salinity, and seasonal variations,exert a profound influence on periphyton growth dynamics. The colonization of microplastics by periphytonsignificantly impacts aquatic ecosystem structure and function due to the efficient transport capacity ofmicroplastics. The experiment was conducted at the Lemming Mesocosm Facility in Denmark. To assess theflipping on the nutrient in the mesocosm system regarding the evaluation of periphyton composition, we useddifferent polymer types and different surface roughness. The plastic strips were positioned just beneath thewater surface in each mesocosm setup, approximately 20 cm below. Periphyton samples were carefullyharvested from the plastic surfaces and transferred to 5 ml Eppendorf tubes, preserving them with Lugol'ssolution. The experiment monitored chlorophyll-a levels and sensor data to determine optimal nutrient-flippingconditions. Upon detecting differences in nutrient levels, the microplastic strips were introduced into themesocosms to evaluate their influence on periphyton composition. Overall, this study elucidates the intricaterelationships between microplastics, periphyton, and aquatic ecosystems, shedding light on the potentialconsequences of their interactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for comprehending the broaderimplications of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.