We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impacts of plastic surface on the periphyton under different nutrient and temperature: A mesocosm experiment
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
More Papers Like This
Microalgae colonization of different microplastic polymers in experimental mesocosms across an environmental gradient
AI summary Read the abstract
Microalgal colonization of five different microplastic polymer types was monitored in freshwater mesocosms across an environmental gradient, finding that polymer type, surface properties, and environmental conditions all influenced the biomass and community composition of epiplastic microalgal biofilms.
How Microplastics Influence the Microbial Communities of Periphytic Biofilm Between the Paddy Soil and Water Interface: A Microcosm Study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed paddy field periphytic biofilms to polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and found that all three polymer types increased microbial biomass without altering biodiversity, while shifting microbial community composition and predicted functional traits like nitrogen cycling and plastic degradation in polymer-specific ways.
Microbial biofilm formation and community structure on low-density polyethylene microparticles in lake water microcosms
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated biofilm formation on low-density polyethylene microparticles in lake water microcosms, finding that microplastic surfaces supported distinct and dynamic microbial communities that differed from those in the surrounding water.
The interaction between plastics and microalgae affects community assembly and nutrient availability
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that plastic debris coated with biological growth (biofilm) — but not clean plastic — altered the community composition of microalgae and changed nutrient levels in the surrounding water. This suggests that plastic particles act as rafts carrying organisms between environments, potentially disrupting aquatic ecosystems in ways that have been largely overlooked.
A domesticated photoautotrophic microbial community as a biofilm model system for analyzing the influence of plastic surfaces on invertebrate grazers in limnic environments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a domesticated photoautotrophic microbial community as a biofilm model system to analyse how plastic surfaces influence invertebrate grazers in freshwater environments. The study found that biofilms growing on plastic substrates affected grazer behaviour and feeding differently than biofilms on natural surfaces, with implications for understanding how plastic pollution disrupts limnic food web interactions.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.