We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Antagonistic and synergistic effects of warming and microplastics on microalgae: Case study of the red tide species Prorocentrum donghaiense
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed the red tide microalgae Prorocentrum donghaiense to different microplastic concentrations and temperatures, finding that microplastics significantly suppressed growth and photosynthesis at 16 degrees C but that higher temperatures (22 and 28 degrees C) partially counteracted these effects at low microplastic doses. The antagonistic and synergistic outcomes of combined warming and microplastic exposure depended on microplastic concentration.
Bibliometric network analysis has revealed that the widespread distribution of microplastics (MPs) has detrimental effects on marine organisms; however, the combined effects of MPs and climate change (e.g., warming) is not well understood. In this study, Prorocentrum donghaiense, a typical red tide species in the East China Sea, was exposed to different MP concentrations (0, 1, 5, and 10 mg L) and temperatures (16, 22, and 28 °C) for 7 days to investigate the combined effects of MPs and simulated ocean warming by measuring different physiological parameters, such as cell growth, pigment contents (chlorophyll a and carotenoid), relative electron transfer rate (rETR), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The results demonstrated that MPs significantly decreased cell growth, pigment contents, and rETR, but increased the MDA, ROS, and SOD levels for all MP treatments at low temperature (16 °C). However, high temperatures (22 and 28 °C) increased the pigment contents and rETR, but decreased the SOD and MDA levels. Positive and negative effects of high temperatures (22 or 28 °C) were observed at low (1 and 5 mg L) and high MP (10 mg L) concentrations, respectively, indicating the antagonistic and synergistic effects of combined warming and MP pollution. These results imply that the effects of MPs on microalgae will likely not be substantial in future warming scenarios if MP concentrations are controlled at a certain level. These findings expand the current knowledge of microalgae in response to increasing MP pollution in future warming scenarios.
More Papers Like This
Warming coupled with elevated pCO2 modulates microplastic inhibition in a commercial red alga Pyropia haitanensis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers cultured the commercially important red seaweed Pyropia haitanensis under elevated CO₂, warming, and a range of microplastic concentrations, finding that microplastics caused strong concentration-dependent stress on growth and photosynthesis, but that elevated pCO₂ modulated these inhibitory effects.
The combined effects of ocean warming and microplastic pollution on marine phytoplankton community dynamics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastic pollution and rising ocean temperatures on tiny marine plants called phytoplankton. While microplastics alone had minimal impact at current temperatures, when combined with warmer water conditions, phytoplankton biomass dropped by 41% and diversity fell by nearly 39%. The study suggests that climate change may dramatically amplify the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on the ocean organisms responsible for a significant portion of global carbon capture.
High microplastic-microalga ratios facilitate the short-term growth and dissolved organic matter transformation of marine Porphyridium
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that high microplastic-to-microalgae ratios paradoxically boosted short-term growth of the marine microalga Porphyridium cruentum by up to 45%, driven by bound exopolysaccharides that adsorbed and sedimented microplastics, though the same aggregation suppressed photosynthesis proteins and DNA repair pathways—revealing a trade-off between acute stress tolerance and long-term cell integrity.
[Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on Growth and Halocarbon Release of Marine Microalgae].
AI summary Read the abstract
Lab experiments showed that polyethylene microplastics affected two species of marine microalgae differently, inhibiting growth of one while promoting growth of the other. Microplastic stress also increased production of reactive oxygen species and altered the release of volatile halocarbons, trace gases important for climate and ozone chemistry.
Tire microplastic particles and warming inhibit physiological functions of the toxic microalga Alexandrium pacificum
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how tire-derived microplastic particles affect a toxic marine algae species under normal and warmed water conditions. They found that low concentrations slightly promoted algal growth, while high concentrations inhibited it, and warming made these negative effects worse. The study suggests that the combination of tire microplastics and rising ocean temperatures could disrupt marine ecosystems in compounding ways.
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.