We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of microplastics on carbon and nitrogen cycling in coastal wetlands: A critical meta-analysis
AI summary
This meta-analysis of over 1,000 data points from 34 studies found that microplastics significantly altered certain carbon and nitrogen cycling indicators in coastal wetlands under laboratory conditions, but tidal simulation experiments more representative of real environments showed no significant effects. The findings caution against over-interpreting lab results and highlight that tidal dynamics and vegetation factors are often missing from experimental designs.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Wetland Ecosystem: A Complex Nexus and Way Forward
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the distribution, fate, and ecological impacts of microplastics in wetland ecosystems, which serve as both sinks and potential secondary sources of microplastic contamination. Wetlands filter water supplies and support biodiversity, so microplastic accumulation there directly threatens aquatic food webs, drinking water quality, and the communities that depend on these ecosystems.
Microplastics can Alter the Nitrogen Cycle in Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands
AI summary Read the abstract
Both conventional PVC and biodegradable PLA microplastics disrupted nitrogen cycling in constructed wetlands, with PVC causing ammonium accumulation and PLA acting as a carbon source, while both enhanced biofilm formation and enzyme activities at higher concentrations. These polymer-specific effects on nitrogen dynamics reveal that microplastic contamination poses distinct and complex threats to the water treatment functions of natural and engineered wetlands.
The Distribution and Characteristics of Microplastics in Coastal Beaches and Mangrove Wetlands
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how microplastics accumulate in coastal beaches and mangrove wetlands, finding these ecosystems act as hotspots that trap plastic particles carried by ocean currents and tides, potentially threatening the marine life that depends on these sensitive habitats.
Microplastic Pollution in Marine Environment: Occurrence, Fate, and Effects (With a Specific Focus on Biogeochemical Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles)
AI summary Read the abstract
Marine sediments have emerged as major sinks for microplastic particles, where they disrupt biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycling in ways that could alter the ocean's capacity to regulate climate. The interference with nutrient cycles adds a systemic ecological dimension to microplastic pollution beyond the direct toxicity effects on individual organisms.
Meta-Analysis and Characterization of Microplastics in the Mangrove Forests: A Case Study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of microplastic contamination in mangrove forests globally, finding these sensitive coastal ecosystems accumulate significant plastic particle loads that threaten biodiversity, disrupt ecological services like coastal protection and nutrient cycling, and create hotspots of environmental pollution.
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.