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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Polystyrene nanoparticles intensify the algae-mediated negative priming effect on leaf litter decomposition
ClearResponse of a simulated aquatic fungal community to nanoplastics exposure and functional consequence on leaf decomposition
Researchers exposed a simulated stream fungal community to nano-polystyrene and found that even low concentrations (1–100 µg/L) suppressed fungal reproduction and reduced the abundance of Geotrichum candidum, slowing leaf litter decomposition by up to 27.9% and disrupting a key aquatic nutrient cycling function.
Nanoplastic pollution inhibits stream leaf decomposition through modulating microbial metabolic activity and fungal community structure
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics significantly inhibited leaf litter decomposition in freshwater streams, even at low concentrations. The study suggests this occurs through suppression of key microbial enzymes and shifts in fungal community structure, indicating that nanoplastic pollution could disrupt important nutrient cycling processes in freshwater ecosystems.
Impacts of low concentrations of nanoplastics on leaf litter decomposition and food quality for detritivores in streams
Researchers found that low concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics impaired leaf litter decomposition in forested streams by reducing aquatic hyphomycete fungal activity and decreasing food quality for detritivore invertebrates, threatening stream ecosystem function.
Nanoplastics intensify metal-induced impacts in freshwater ecosystems
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics — both bare and carboxylated — intensified metal-induced impairment of leaf litter decomposition by aquatic hyphomycetes in freshwater microcosms, with combined stressor effects observed at environmentally relevant concentrations and amplified at higher exposures.
Effects of microsized and nanosized polystyrene on detrital processing and nutrient dynamics in streams
Researchers exposed a stream detrital food chain — leaf-decomposing microbes and a river snail — to nano- and microsized polystyrene particles and found that nanosized particles suppressed microbial growth while boosting certain enzymes, whereas microsized particles reduced leaf nitrogen content and snail feeding, indicating distinct ecological disruption pathways depending on particle size.
Microplastics alter the leaf litter breakdown rates and the decomposer community in subtropical lentic microhabitats
Researchers exposed leaf litter decomposition systems to microplastics and measured breakdown rates and decomposer community composition, finding that microplastics slowed litter breakdown and shifted the abundance of invertebrate shredders and microbial decomposers. The study suggests microplastics could disrupt nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems by impairing a foundational ecological process.
Does functionalised nanoplastics modulate the cellular and physiological responses of aquatic fungi to metals?
Researchers investigated how functionalized nanoplastics interact with copper to affect aquatic fungi that play important roles as decomposers in freshwater ecosystems. The study found that polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations can modulate the cellular and physiological responses of the fungus Articulospora tetracladia to copper exposure.
Synergistic effects of nanoplastics and graphene oxides on microbe-driven litter decomposition in streams
Researchers ran a controlled aquatic experiment combining nanoplastics and graphene oxide to study their effects on leaf litter decomposition, finding that the combination altered bacterial diversity, boosted certain enzymatic activities, and produced time-dependent effects—initially inhibiting then promoting decomposition—with bacteria more affected than fungi.
Microplastics and leaf litter decomposition dynamics: New insights from a lotic ecosystem (Northeastern Italy)
Researchers studied how microplastics affect the natural decomposition of plant litter in a freshwater stream over four seasons, finding that microplastics had a small but measurable negative effect on decomposition rates and accumulated inside the invertebrates responsible for breaking down organic matter. These findings suggest microplastic pollution subtly disrupts the nutrient cycling processes that keep freshwater ecosystems healthy.
Effects of nanoplastic exposure routes on leaf decomposition in streams
Researchers conducted a microcosm experiment showing that dietary exposure to nanoplastics — through eating contaminated leaf litter — more severely disrupts stream food webs than waterborne exposure, reducing microbial enzyme activity, lowering leaf lipid content, and decreasing river snail feeding rates by up to 17%.
Emerging Microplastics Alter the Influences of Soil Animals on the Fungal Community Structure in Determining the Litter Decomposition of a Deciduous Tree
Researchers investigated how microplastics in forest soil affect the interactions between soil animals and fungal communities during leaf litter decomposition. They found that the presence of microplastics altered fungal community structure and disrupted the beneficial influence that soil animals normally have on decomposition processes. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in forest ecosystems could interfere with nutrient cycling by changing how decomposer communities function.
How do the Growth and Metabolic Activity of Aquatic fungi Geotrichum Candidum and Aspergillus Niger Respond to Nanoplastics?
This study exposed two aquatic fungal species, Geotrichum candidum and Aspergillus niger, to polystyrene and amine-modified polystyrene nanoparticles at environmental concentrations. Hormesis effects were observed at low PS concentrations for G. candidum growth, while A. niger was more sensitive, and both species showed altered enzyme activities involved in organic matter decomposition.
Microplastics and silver nanoparticles compromise detrital food chains in streams through effects on microbial decomposers and invertebrate detritivores
Researchers tested how microplastics and silver nanoparticles, both common pollutants from personal care products, affect stream food webs built around decomposing leaf litter. They found that both pollutants, alone and in combination, reduced fungal decomposition and harmed invertebrate feeding and growth, disrupting the base of the food chain. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of these contaminants in freshwater could impair nutrient cycling in stream ecosystems.
Nanoplastic-mediated disruption of freshwater carbon cycling via modulating of plankton communities
Researchers exposed freshwater mesocosms to polystyrene nanoplastics (80–500 nm) at 1 mg/L and found significant disruption of zooplankton and bacterial community structure, which altered carbon cycling processes — suggesting nanoplastics can impair the ecosystem functions that regulate freshwater carbon flux.
Evidence of micro and macroplastic toxicity along a stream detrital food-chain.
Both micro- and macroplastic polyethylene pieces inhibited the decomposition of leaf litter in freshwater streams, with microplastics reducing the feeding activity of stream invertebrates. Since leaf litter decomposition is a critical process that nutrients and energy flow into freshwater food webs, plastic pollution could disrupt these fundamental ecosystem functions.
Acute effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on periphytic biofilms depending on particle size, concentration and surface modification
Researchers tested the acute effects of polystyrene particles ranging from 100 nanometers to 9 micrometers on freshwater biofilms that are essential for nutrient cycling. They found that larger particles had negligible effects, but high concentrations of 100-nanometer particles significantly reduced chlorophyll content and enzyme activities related to carbon and nitrogen cycling. Positively charged nanoparticles were the most toxic, with the damage linked to oxidative stress from excess reactive oxygen species generation.
Do microbial decomposers find micro- and nanoplastics to be harmful stressors in the aquatic environment? A systematic review of in vitro toxicological research
Researchers systematically reviewed in vitro studies on how bacteria and fungi respond to micro- and nanoplastics, finding that polystyrene particles and E. coli dominate the literature and that nanoplastic toxicity commonly disrupts antioxidative systems, gene expression, and cell membrane integrity in microbial decomposers.
Polystyrene microplastics facilitate formation of refractory dissolved organic matter and reduce CO2 emissions
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics altered the composition and function of microbial communities in aquatic environments, promoting the formation of refractory dissolved organic matter that resists further breakdown. This shift in organic matter composition also led to reduced carbon dioxide emissions from the water system. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may have unexpected effects on aquatic carbon cycling by changing how organic matter is processed by microbes.
Dual Effect of Microplastics and Cadmium on Stream Litter Decomposition and Invertebrate Feeding Behavior
Microcosm experiments showed that combined exposure to microplastics and cadmium reduced leaf litter decomposition rates and altered fungal communities and invertebrate feeding behavior in freshwater streams more than either stressor alone.
Comprehensive metagenomic and enzyme activity analysis reveals the negatively influential and potentially toxic mechanism of polystyrene nanoparticles on nitrogen transformation in constructed wetlands
Researchers exposed constructed wetlands to polystyrene nanoparticles and found that even 1–10 mg/L concentrations suppressed denitrification and nitrification enzyme activities, reduced the abundance of nitrogen-cycling microbial genes, and generated oxidative stress in both macrophytes and microorganisms — disrupting the nitrogen transformation essential to wetland water-purification function.