We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impacts of microplastics on the duckweed "Lemna minor" and potential trophic transfer to the amphipod "Gammarus pulex"
AI summary
This review examined the distribution and ecological impacts of microplastics in marine environments. The authors synthesized global data on plastic fragmentation, accumulation in marine organisms, and potential pathways into food webs, underscoring the need for standardized monitoring methodologies.
More Papers Like This
The Effects of Different Sizes of Microplastics and Glyphosate Single and Combined Stress on Purple Duckweed
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles (microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics) and the weedkiller glyphosate affect a small water plant called purple duckweed, both alone and combined. They found that glyphosate, not the plastics, was the main thing stunting root growth, but the plant ramped up its own antioxidant defenses to cope with the stress from both pollutants. This matters because it shows these plastics and chemicals often show up together in water systems, and understanding how plants respond can help us predict how these combined pollutants might move through the food chain and affect broader ecosystem health.
A short-term preliminary experimental study on the effect of microplastics on Chlorella vulgaris and duckweeds
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed freshwater algae and duckweed — both important food sources for fish and humans — to microplastics and found that even small amounts inhibited growth and reduced photosynthetic pigments. This suggests that microplastic contamination in water could disrupt the base of aquatic food chains that people depend on.
The impact of Microplastic on freshwater macrophytes
AI summary
This French PhD thesis quantified microplastic release during the use phase of consumer products, with particular focus on salt shakers and other food contact items. The study found that use-phase wear and abrasion of plastic surfaces generated measurable microplastic particles that could contaminate food, representing a direct human dietary exposure route.
Microplastics and freshwater microalgae: what do we know so far?
AI summary Read the abstract
A review of 20 studies found that microplastics inhibit freshwater microalgae growth, reduce photosynthetic activity, alter pigment profiles, and induce oxidative stress, with effects varying by plastic shape, size, concentration, and exposure duration. Because microalgae form the base of aquatic food webs, microplastic-driven disruption of algal communities could have cascading effects on freshwater ecosystem health.
Physiological, morphological, and growth effects of microplastics on freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers showed that microplastics inhibit growth, reduce chlorophyll and photosynthetic efficiency, and trigger oxidative stress in the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting the species could serve as a bioindicator for aquatic microplastic contamination.
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.