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The impacts of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (mPETs) on ecosystem functionality in marine sediment

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020 26 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 30 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Julie A. Hope, Julie A. Hope, Julie A. Hope, Yuxi You, Yuxi You, Yuxi You, Yuxi You, Julie A. Hope, Julie A. Hope, Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Julie A. Hope, Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Julie A. Hope, Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Julie A. Hope, Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush Simon F. Thrush

Summary

Researchers found that PET microplastics disrupted key ecosystem functions in marine sediments over a 31-day experiment, impairing nutrient cycling and the activity of bivalves and microphytobenthos. The results suggest that even moderate concentrations of microplastics can harm the ecological services provided by seafloor communities.

Polymers

PE PET

Study Type Environmental

The effects of microplastics (MPs) on the ecological functioning in marine sediments is largely unknown. However, coastal marine sediments and their resident communities play critical roles in the transformation of organic matter and the cycling of nutrients that influence both local and global processes. To investigate how microplastics influence ecosystem functions associated with sediment biogeochemistry, large bivalves and microphytobenthos, we conducted a 31-day laboratory experiment. The experiment tested the role of micro-polyethylene terephthalate (mPETs) at five concentrations (0%, 1%, 3%, 6%, and 8% based on wet weight of top 1 cm sediment). Canonical principle of coordinate analysis (CAP) was applied to assess change on the ecosystem functionality with increasing concentrations of mPETs. Our results highlight that stress effects on ecosystem function are the product of the interaction between Macomona liliana, microphytobenthos and mPETs.

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