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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Coupling of sulfate reduction and dissolved organic carbon degradation accelerated by microplastics in blue carbon ecosystems
ClearEffects of microplastics on carbon release and microbial community in mangrove soil systems
Researchers tested how microplastics affect carbon release and microbial life in mangrove soils at different depths. They found that while topsoil was largely unaffected, deeper soil layers released significantly more carbon dioxide when microplastics were present, particularly biodegradable types like polylactic acid. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in mangrove ecosystems could accelerate carbon loss from deeper soils by disrupting microbial communities and worsening nitrogen limitations.
Stable Isotopic and Metagenomic Analyses Reveal Microbial-Mediated Effects of Microplastics on Sulfur Cycling in Coastal Sediments
This study investigated how microplastics affect sulfur cycling in coastal mangrove sediments, an important process for marine ecosystem health. Biodegradable plastics actually increased sulfur-related bacterial activity more than conventional plastics, suggesting they may have unintended environmental effects. The findings show that microplastic pollution can disrupt fundamental chemical cycles in coastal environments, which could have cascading effects on water quality and the marine food web.
Depth-dependent response of soil microbial community and greenhouse gas efflux to polylactic acid microplastics and tidal cycles in a mangrove ecosystem
Researchers found that biodegradable plastic (PLA) microplastics in mangrove soil increased the release of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, from deeper soil layers. The microplastics altered soil bacterial communities in ways that boosted methane-producing organisms. This finding is important because biodegradable plastics are often marketed as environmentally friendly, but they may still harm ecosystems by accelerating carbon release from soils.
Subtle biogeochemical consequences of biodegradable and conventional microplastics in estuarine blue carbon systems
Researchers conducted field experiments exposing mangrove ecosystems to conventional and biodegradable microplastics for up to 100 days. While overall microbial community composition remained stable, the biodegradable microplastics temporarily disrupted key nutrient cycling processes for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The findings suggest that even in resilient blue carbon ecosystems, biodegradable plastics can cause subtle but measurable changes to biogeochemical functions.
Mangrove degradation retarded microplastics weathering and affected metabolic activities of microplastics-associated microbes
Microplastic weathering was slower in degraded mangrove sediments than in intact mangroves, with degradation also altering the composition and metabolic activity of microplastic-associated microbial communities. The findings suggest mangrove ecosystem health influences how rapidly microplastics degrade and what ecological roles microplastic-associated microbes play in these coastal environments.
Microplastic pollution threatens mangrove carbon sequestration capacity
Researchers found that microplastic pollution in mangrove soils is linked to increased methane production potential by favoring methane-producing archaea over methane-consuming bacteria. A nationwide survey of Chinese mangroves revealed higher microplastic concentrations in surface soils, with stronger associations with methane-cycling microorganisms at shallow depths. The findings suggest that plastic pollution could undermine the carbon sequestration capacity of these critical coastal ecosystems, potentially turning them from carbon sinks into greenhouse gas sources.
Biodeterioration of Microplastics by Bacteria Isolated from Mangrove Sediment
Researchers isolated bacteria from mangrove sediment capable of degrading 11 different types of microplastics, identifying species like Enterobacter and Bacillus that achieved measurable weight loss and surface deterioration of plastic particles through biodegradation.
A review on microplastic pollution in the mangrove wetlands and microbial strategies for its remediation
Researchers reviewed the growing problem of microplastic pollution in mangrove wetland ecosystems and its effects on the biological communities that depend on these habitats. They found that microplastic exposure can substantially alter the microbial communities critical to nutrient cycling in mangrove environments. The review also explores microbial bioremediation strategies as a sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution in these threatened coastal ecosystems.
Microbial colonization and succession on polylactic acid microplastics (PLA MPs) in mangrove forests - the role of environmental conditions and plastic properties
Researchers incubated two types of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics in mangrove ecosystems across four environmental settings for 90 days to study microbial colonization patterns. They found that microbial colonization progressed more rapidly in sediment than in water, and the type of plastic influenced which microbial communities developed. The study suggests that environmental conditions and plastic properties together shape how microorganisms interact with biodegradable plastics in natural settings.
Distinct impacts of microplastics on the carbon sequestration capacity of coastal blue carbon ecosystems: A case of seagrass beds
Researchers examined how microplastic pollution affects the ability of seagrass beds to capture and store carbon, a process important for combating climate change. Evidence indicates that microplastics can alter sediment properties, disrupt microbial communities, and inhibit seagrass growth, all of which reduce carbon storage capacity. The study highlights that microplastic contamination may be undermining one of nature's key tools for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Bacterial degradation of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in a mangrove ecosystem
Researchers isolated bacteria from a mangrove ecosystem that can break down polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, achieving measurable weight loss over 60 days. The bacteria produced enzymes that caused visible surface degradation of the plastic particles, confirmed through microscopy and chemical analysis. While the degradation rates were modest, the study demonstrates that naturally occurring bacteria in coastal environments have the potential to help address microplastic pollution.
The combined effects of microplastics and their additives on mangrove system: From the sinks to the sources of carbon
This review examined how microplastics and plastic additives (including flame retardants and phthalate plasticizers) affect carbon sequestration in mangrove blue carbon ecosystems, finding that MPs can shift mangroves from carbon sinks to potential carbon sources by disrupting soil organic carbon storage and microbial decomposition.
Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential
Researchers investigated how microplastics and heavy metals together affect the microbial communities around mangrove tree roots. They found that combined pollution significantly reduced microbial diversity and shifted the balance of bacterial species, which in turn compromised the ability of these ecosystems to capture and store carbon. The study highlights that microplastic-metal co-contamination poses a compounding threat to mangrove ecosystems, which play an important role in coastal carbon storage.
Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments
In a lab experiment simulating mangrove wetland sediments, microplastics altered nutrient cycling by intensifying nitrogen limitation, which changed how microbes processed nitrogen. While focused on environmental impacts, this matters because mangrove ecosystems are important coastal filters, and disrupting their nutrient cycles could affect downstream water quality and the health of seafood that humans consume.
Effects of polypropylene microplastics on carbon dioxide dynamics in intertidal mangrove sediments
This study investigated how polypropylene microplastics affect carbon dioxide dynamics in mangrove sediments. Researchers found that microplastic contamination altered organic carbon content and microbial communities, influencing CO2 release patterns differently depending on tidal elevation and microplastic concentration.
Effects of Microplastics on Soil Carbon Mineralization: The Crucial Role of Oxygen Dynamics and Electron Transfer
Researchers investigated how polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics affect carbon cycling in soil, focusing on oxygen dynamics and electron transfer processes. They found that microplastics alter dissolved oxygen distribution at the microscale, which in turn influences how organic matter breaks down and whether carbon is released as CO2 or methane. The study reveals a previously overlooked mechanism by which microplastics can disrupt fundamental soil carbon processes.
Colonization characteristics and dynamic transition of archaea communities on polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in the sediments of mangrove ecosystems
Researchers found that microplastics in mangrove sediments host distinct communities of archaea (ancient microorganisms) that differ from those in surrounding sediments, with some species linked to increased methane production. The microbial communities on microplastic surfaces shifted over time and showed increased potential for methane emissions and changes in nitrogen cycling. This suggests that microplastic pollution in coastal wetlands could amplify greenhouse gas production and disrupt nutrient cycles that support these critical ecosystems.
Effects of micro- and nano-plastics on community assemblages and dimethylated sulfur compounds production
Researchers conducted a field microcosm experiment to study how micro- and nanoplastics affect marine plankton communities and the production of climate-relevant sulfur compounds. They found that medium and high concentrations of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyamide particles disrupted zooplankton grazing and altered the production of dimethyl sulfide. The study suggests that plastic pollution could interfere with marine biogeochemical cycles that play a role in climate regulation.
Unveiling the impact of microplastics with distinct polymer types and concentrations on tidal sediment microbiome and nitrogen cycling
Researchers tested how five different types of microplastics at varying concentrations affect microbial communities and nitrogen cycling in tidal sediments over 30 days. They found that microplastics generally reduced microbial diversity and enhanced nitrogen fixation, with biodegradable PLA plastic showing concentration-dependent effects. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in coastal sediments can disrupt important nutrient cycling processes driven by microorganisms.
Emergence of specialized plastic-degrading enzymes within highly dynamic coastal oceans
Researchers conducted long-term monitoring of microplastics in the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem and found high abundances linked to freshwater inflow patterns. Alongside microplastics, they identified nearly 750 plastic-degrading enzyme sequences in the microbial community, suggesting that this dynamic coastal ecosystem harbors specialized plastic-degrading microbiomes.