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Marine BioturbationDrives Global Microplastic Cyclingand Biological Exposure Risks
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Using a global database of 1,697 benthic organism samples from 203 species and 3,724 sediment samples, researchers found that bioturbation by sea-floor organisms plays a dual role — both redistributing microplastics deeper into sediments and resuspending them into the water column — with filter feeders accumulating significantly more microplastics than mobile foragers.
Marine sediments are the ultimate sink for microplastics that threaten benthic ecosystems. This study establishes the first comprehensive global database of microplastic contamination in benthic environments, comprising 1697 benthic organism samples (203 species) and 3724 sediment samples from marine continental shelves worldwide. Using in situ environmental data, we systematically elucidate the regulatory mechanisms through which benthic bioturbation influences the fate of microplastics. Compared with mobile foragers (e.g., crabs: 4.06 ± 5.80 items/unit), filter-feeding species (e.g., oysters: 7.92 ± 10.54 items/unit) accumulate significantly more microplastics, reflecting functional group differentiation in terms of microplastic–biota interactions. Bioturbation has dual effects: it facilitates the migration of microplastics to deeper sediments for carbon sequestration while increasing organismal exposure. Dissolved oxygen and temperature regulate bioaccumulation by controlling bioturbation intensity, resulting in pronounced spatiotemporal variability. Relatively higher accumulation efficiency occurs in high-latitude regions and semienclosed seas, and areas such as the Asia-Pacific region and the Gulf of Mexico exhibit elevated winter contamination risks. This study provides a global-scale investigation of complex benthic bioturbation transport mechanisms and ecological regulation of microplastic fate, offering critical evidence for predicting contamination risks under climate change and forming adaptive management strategies.
More Papers Like This
Marine Bioturbation Drives Global Microplastic Cycling and Biological Exposure Risks
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers built the first comprehensive global database of microplastic contamination in ocean floor environments, covering over 1,600 organism samples across 203 species. They found that filter-feeding species like oysters accumulate significantly more microplastics than mobile foragers, and that bioturbation by bottom-dwelling organisms both buries microplastics deeper into sediments and increases biological exposure. The study reveals that contamination risks vary by region and season, with higher accumulation in high-latitude areas and semienclosed seas.
Modelled broad-scale shifts on seafloor ecosystem functioning due to microplastic effects on bioturbation
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This study modelled how microplastic contamination of marine sediments affects bioturbation — the mixing of sediment by bottom-dwelling organisms — and the cascading effects on seafloor ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling. The model predicts that in MP-contaminated sediments, organic matter accumulates in the oxygen-rich zone, stimulating aerobic respiration by around 18%. These results suggest microplastics can reshape fundamental biogeochemical processes in seafloor ecosystems at broad scales, with implications for ocean carbon and nutrient cycling.
Modelled broad-scale shifts on seafloor ecosystem functioning due to microplastic impacts on bioturbation
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Model simulations incorporating experimental bioturbation data found that broad-scale reductions in seafloor bioturbation caused by microplastic impacts on marine invertebrates could significantly alter nutrient cycling in marine sediments at ecosystem scales.
Microplastic impacts on soil and sediment bioturbation: insights from microcosm experiments across diverse ecosystems
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This study used microcosm experiments across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems to assess whether microplastics affect bioturbation — the physical reworking of sediment and soil by organisms. Microplastic exposure reduced bioturbation activity in multiple ecosystems, with implications for nutrient cycling and sediment health.
The role of bioturbation in microplastic burial in marine sediments
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This study found that burrowing marine worms significantly affect microplastic redistribution in sediments, with one polychaete species transporting larger plastic particles to depths of 20 cm through feeding activity — demonstrating that bioturbation plays an important role in burying microplastics in the seafloor.
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