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Papers
68 resultsShowing papers from University of Bremen
ClearMicroplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Global Review of Distribution, Ecotoxicological Impacts, and Human Health Risks
This global review summarizes how microplastics are distributed across freshwater, marine, and polar environments, and examines their ecological and human health impacts. People are exposed through contaminated seafood, water, and air, and research links microplastic exposure to oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone disruption, and possible genetic effects at the cellular level.
Seafloor microplastic hotspots controlled by deep-sea circulation
Researchers discovered that deep-sea ocean currents, not just vertical settling from the surface, play a major role in concentrating microplastics on the seafloor, creating pollution hotspots with the highest concentrations ever recorded in any seafloor setting. These thermohaline-driven bottom currents sort and accumulate microplastics in the same areas where they deliver oxygen and nutrients to deep-sea life. The findings suggest that the most biologically rich areas of the deep ocean floor are likely also the most contaminated with microplastics.
Ostracoda and Foraminifera as bioindicators of (aquatic) pollution in the protected area of uMlalazi estuary, South Africa
Researchers used tiny shell-bearing organisms (ostracods and foraminifera) as biological indicators to assess water quality in a protected South African estuary. Despite its protected status, the estuary showed signs of pollution based on the species diversity and health of these indicator organisms. While not focused on microplastics specifically, these biological monitoring methods could be adapted to assess the ecological impact of microplastic pollution in coastal and estuarine environments.
Smoother sea ice with fewer pressure ridges in a more dynamic Arctic
Researchers used airborne measurements to show that Arctic sea ice surfaces are becoming smoother, with fewer pressure ridges, as older ice is replaced by thinner seasonal ice. They found that while the loss of ridged old ice reduces surface drag, the increase in seasonal ice actually creates more overall deformation across the Arctic. These changes have significant implications for Arctic shipping, ocean energy balance, and the ecosystems that depend on ridged ice habitats.
A stable isotope assay with 13C-labeled polyethylene to investigate plastic mineralization mediated by Rhodococcus ruber
Researchers developed a novel method using carbon-13-labeled polyethylene to precisely measure microbial plastic degradation rates. Using the bacterium Rhodococcus ruber as a model organism, they demonstrated mineralization rates of up to 1.2 percent per year for UV-treated polyethylene particles. The study establishes stable isotope tracing as a valuable tool for unambiguously proving and quantifying microbial plastic degradation.
Mitigation measures to avert the impacts of plastics and microplastics in the marine environment (a review)
This review examines the growing problem of plastic and microplastic pollution in marine environments and evaluates various mitigation strategies. The authors discuss approaches including reducing plastic production, improving waste management, developing biodegradable alternatives, and implementing cleanup technologies. The study emphasizes that a combination of prevention, policy intervention, and innovative solutions is needed to address the scale of marine plastic contamination.
Spatial distribution of small microplastics in the Norwegian Coastal Current
Researchers mapped microplastic concentrations at multiple depths along the Norwegian Coastal Current, a major pathway carrying pollutants toward the Arctic. They found that the smallest microplastics, those under 50 micrometers, made up over 80% of all detected particles and were found at concentrations up to four orders of magnitude higher than larger microplastics, underscoring the importance of measuring these very small particles in ocean monitoring.
Variation of ingested microplastic size and quantity in different tissues of juvenile European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax
Researchers fed fluorescent microplastics to juvenile European seabass for 16 weeks and tracked the translocation of particles from the digestive tract to blood, gills, liver, and fillet tissue. They found that smaller microplastics were more likely to translocate to non-digestive organs, with particle size and quantity varying across different tissues. The study raises concerns about microplastic bioaccumulation in commercially farmed fish that are consumed by humans.
Microwave Cytometry with Machine Learning for Shape-Resolved Microplastic Detection
Researchers developed a microwave cytometry platform paired with a random forest model trained on microscopy-derived shape data to electronically determine the major and minor axes of ellipsoidal microplastic particles with less than 8% average error, removing the spherical-particle assumption that limits existing flow-through sensors.
Microplastics may reduce the efficiency of the biological carbon pump by decreasing the settling velocity and carbon content of marine snow
Researchers found that microfibers incorporated into marine snow aggregates reduced both the settling velocity and carbon content of these particles. The study suggests that microplastic contamination could impair the biological carbon pump, the ocean's key mechanism for transporting carbon from surface waters to the deep sea, with potential implications for marine carbon cycling.
No evidence of microplastic ingestion in emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri) from the Atka Bay colony (Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica)
Researchers found no evidence of microplastic ingestion in emperor penguin chicks from the Atka Bay colony in Antarctica, suggesting that remote Antarctic regions with low human activity may still have limited microplastic contamination in the marine food web.
Biofilm and Diatom Succession on Polyethylene (PE) and Biodegradable Plastic Bags in Two Marine Habitats: Early Signs of Degradation in the Pelagic and Benthic Zone?
Researchers studied biofilm and diatom colonization on polyethylene and biodegradable plastic bags over time, finding that both plastic types develop distinct microbial communities and that biodegradable plastics did not degrade noticeably faster under marine conditions.
Highly variable deep-sea currents over tidal and seasonal timescales
Researchers used advanced deep-sea monitoring to study how near-bed ocean currents vary over tidal and seasonal timescales on the continental slope. They found that these currents are far more variable than previously assumed, with implications for how sediment, organic carbon, and pollutants including microplastics are transported across the deep ocean floor. The study improves understanding of the physical processes that control where contaminants accumulate in deep-sea environments.
Comparison of Two 16S rRNA Primers (V3–V4 and V4–V5) for Studies of Arctic Microbial Communities
Researchers compared two 16S rRNA primer sets for characterizing Arctic microbial communities and found that primer performance differs in polar environments, highlighting the need for primer validation in underrepresented high-latitude settings.
Tracking the micro- and nanoplastics in the terrestrial-freshwater food webs. Bivalves as sentinel species
Researchers tracked the transfer of micro- and nanoplastics through an experimental terrestrial-freshwater food chain involving earthworms, freshwater mussels, and predatory fish. The study found evidence of trophic transfer of plastic particles across species, with bivalves serving as effective sentinel organisms for monitoring plastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems.
Third-generation biodegradable plastics – A complementary strategy to tackle the marine litter problem
This paper reviews the role of third-generation biodegradable plastics as a complementary strategy to reduce marine litter, acknowledging that even with concerted action to reduce consumption, over 700 million tonnes of plastic waste will cumulatively enter aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It argues that biodegradable alternatives must be combined with improved waste infrastructure and consumer behavior change.
Particulate Organic Carbon Deconstructed: Molecular and Chemical Composition of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Ocean
This review examines the molecular and chemical composition of particulate organic carbon in the ocean, which links surface biological production to the deep ocean and ultimately influences atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Advances in analytical chemistry and molecular tools are helping researchers better understand how the ocean's carbon cycle functions.
Secondary flow in contour currents controls the formation of moat-drift contourite systems
Researchers used a laboratory flume tank to show that secondary spiral flows within deep-ocean bottom currents are the key mechanism that carves out the trench-and-mound sediment formations called moat-drift systems on the seafloor. Understanding these formations helps scientists reconstruct ancient ocean circulation patterns and track how pollutants and sediments move in deep-water environments.
Nanoplastic incorporation into an organismal skeleton
Researchers reported the first observation of nanoplastic particles being physically incorporated into the calcite skeleton of large benthic foraminifera, organisms important for global carbonate production in the ocean. The encrustation of nanoplastics into these calcium carbonate shells represents a previously unrecognized pathway for plastic entry into marine geological records.
Spatial distribution and consequences of contaminants in harbour sediments – A case study from Richards Bay Harbour, South Africa
Surface sediments from Richards Bay Harbour in South Africa were analyzed for microplastics, metals, and microfaunal assemblages, finding that microplastics concentrated near recreational areas while heavy metals were elevated near bulk goods terminals, with sediment core analysis documenting historical metal contamination and bioindicator stress at contaminated sites.
Scleractinian corals incorporate microplastic particles: identification from a laboratory study
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that scleractinian corals actively incorporate microplastic particles during feeding, with ingestion rates varying by particle size and polymer type, raising concerns about chronic microplastic exposure in coral reef ecosystems.
Factors controlling the morphology and internal sediment architecture of moats and their associated contourite drifts
This study examined the factors controlling the morphology and sediment architecture of contourite drifts and associated moats in deep-water environments, improving understanding of how oceanographic currents interact with sedimentary systems to shape seafloor features relevant to paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
Interannual variability in Transpolar Drift summer sea ice thickness and potential impact of Atlantification
This study analyzed interannual variability in sea ice thickness along the Transpolar Drift in the Arctic, finding that increasing Atlantic water influence (Atlantification) is contributing to thinner, younger ice that alters sea ice export through Fram Strait.
No short-term effect of sinking microplastics on heterotrophy or sediment clearing in the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata
The tropical coral Stylophora pistillata was exposed to sinking microplastics at concentrations closer to environmentally realistic levels than most prior studies, finding no significant short-term effects on sediment shedding behavior or heterotrophic feeding rates. The study suggests that corals may not be acutely impaired by microplastic concentrations typical of tropical reef environments, though longer-term effects remain unstudied.