Papers

Microplastic leachates inhibit small-scale self-organization in mussel beds

Researchers found that chemical leachates from plastic pellets collected in the intertidal zone disrupted the ability of mussels to form self-organized spatial patterns and produce byssal threads. The study suggests that plastic pollution may undermine the natural self-organization processes that help mussel beds maintain ecosystem resilience, representing a previously unrecognized threat to intertidal habitat stability.