We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Depth-dependent response of soil microbial community and greenhouse gas efflux to polylactic acid microplastics and tidal cycles in a mangrove ecosystem
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.
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.
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.
Mechanisms Associated with Lower Methane Emissions from Paddy Soil by Aged Polylactic Acid Microplastics
Researchers found that paddy fields with certain management practices emitted less methane, linking microplastic content and soil microbial community shifts to reduced greenhouse gas output. The study highlights how plastic contamination in agricultural soils can unexpectedly alter the carbon cycle.
Microplastics promote methane emission in estuarine and coastal wetlands
This study found that microplastics in coastal and estuarine wetlands increase methane emissions by boosting the activity of methane-producing microorganisms while reducing methane-consuming ones. Both conventional and biodegradable plastics had this effect, meaning microplastic pollution is not just a direct health concern but also contributes to climate change by amplifying greenhouse gas release from natural ecosystems.
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.
Influence of biodegradable microplastics on soil carbon cycling: Insights from soil respiration, enzyme activity, carbon use efficiency and microbial community
Researchers investigated how biodegradable microplastics affect carbon cycling in soil by measuring respiration, enzyme activity, and microbial communities over 64 days. They found that certain biodegradable plastics, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates, dramatically increased soil carbon emissions by up to 665% and significantly altered microbial community structure. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastics can substantially disrupt soil ecosystem processes when they break down into microplastic-sized particles.
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.
Coupling of sulfate reduction and dissolved organic carbon degradation accelerated by microplastics in blue carbon ecosystems
Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in mangrove sediments accelerated the breakdown of dissolved organic carbon by boosting sulfate-reducing bacteria activity. Millimeter-sized PLA particles had a greater effect than micrometer-sized ones, fundamentally altering carbon and sulfur cycling in these important coastal ecosystems. This matters because mangrove sediments are major carbon stores, and microplastic contamination could speed up carbon release, worsening climate change.
Polyethylene microplastic-induced microbial shifts affected greenhouse gas emissions during litter decomposition in coastal wetland sediments
Scientists found that polyethylene microplastics in coastal wetland sediments significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions during plant litter decomposition, cutting methane by 41% and carbon dioxide by 26%. This happened because the microplastics changed the communities of bacteria, fungi, and archaea responsible for breaking down organic matter. While reduced greenhouse gases may sound positive, the disruption to natural decomposition processes could have unpredictable long-term effects on coastal ecosystems.
Effects of biodegradable microplastics and straw addition on soil greenhouse gas emissions
Researchers tested how biodegradable microplastics made from polylactic acid (PLA) affect greenhouse gas emissions from soil, both with and without added crop straw. They found that high concentrations of PLA microplastics significantly increased carbon dioxide emissions while decreasing nitrous oxide emissions, suggesting that even biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic mulch films can meaningfully alter soil chemistry and gas cycles.
Biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics affect greenhouse gas emissions through chemical diversity and microbial biodiversity
Researchers investigated how biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and non-biodegradable polystyrene (PS) microplastics affect greenhouse gas emissions in soil, finding that both types elevated CO2 and N2O emissions while shifting microbial community composition at both phylum and genus levels. Structural equation modeling revealed that GHG emissions were more strongly correlated with chemical diversity driven by the microplastics than with microbial diversity, with PLA increasing soil organic carbon content.
Discrepant soil microbial community and C cycling function responses to conventional and biodegradable microplastics
Scientists compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics affect soil microbial communities and carbon cycling. Researchers found that the two types of microplastics had markedly different effects, with biodegradable plastics causing more changes to microbial community structure and carbon-related gene activity. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics, while designed to be more environmentally friendly, may still significantly alter soil biology.
Differential carbon accumulation of microbial necromass and plant lignin by pollution of polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics in soil
This study found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics changed how carbon is stored in soil. The plastics increased carbon from dead microbes while decreasing carbon from plant material, with most of the additional soil carbon coming from fungal remains. These changes to soil chemistry matter because they could affect agricultural productivity and the ability of soil to store carbon, with broader implications for climate and food systems.
Effects of microplastics on greenhouse gas emissions and the microbial community in fertilized soil
Two particle sizes of microplastics were added to fertilized soil and their effects on dissolved organic carbon, greenhouse gas fluxes, and microbial communities were measured, finding reduced global warming potential due to decreased methane emissions but changes in bacterial and fungal community composition. The study reveals complex interactions between microplastics and soil carbon cycling processes.
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.
Disentangling microplastics effects on soil structure, microbial activity and greenhouse gas emissions
Researchers studied how microplastics affect soil structure, microbial activity, and greenhouse gas emissions, finding complex interactions that depend on microplastic type and concentration. The presence of microplastics in soils can alter the biological processes that regulate carbon storage and nutrient cycling.
A Double‐Edged Sword of Biodegradable Microplastics on the Soil Microbial Carbon Pump
Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics in soil had a double-edged effect: they increased carbon dioxide emissions (contributing to greenhouse gases) but also boosted the efficiency of soil microbes at storing carbon in stable forms. This suggests microplastic pollution in farmland has complex environmental consequences that go beyond simple contamination, potentially affecting both climate change and long-term soil health.
Effects of microplastics on microbial community and greenhouse gas emission in soil: A critical review
This review examines how microplastics in soil affect microbial communities and greenhouse gas emissions, finding that microplastics can alter the abundance and activity of soil bacteria in ways that increase carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide release. The plastics change soil structure and chemistry, creating conditions that favor certain gas-producing microbes over others. These effects could worsen climate change while also disrupting soil fertility, with indirect consequences for food production.
Microplastics shape microbial communities affecting soil organic matter decomposition in paddy soil
Researchers found that microplastics shape soil microbial communities in paddy soils in ways that affect organic matter decomposition, revealing how bacterial succession and carbon cycling are altered by microplastic presence in agricultural systems.
A Study of the Effects of Microplastics on Microbial Communities in Marine Sediments
This study investigated how the presence of microplastics in marine sediments affects microbial communities and, specifically, the methane cycle, finding that microplastics significantly altered microbial community structure and function. Since marine sediment microbes play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic contamination could have broader climate-relevant effects beyond direct toxicity.
Presence of different microplastics promotes greenhouse gas emissions and alters the microbial community composition of farmland soil
Researchers examined how five types of microplastics (PVC, PP, PE, PS, and PET) at different concentrations affect greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities in farmland soil. The study found that microplastic presence promoted greenhouse gas emissions and altered the composition of soil microbial communities, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration.
Low-density polyethylene microplastics and biochar interactively affect greenhouse gas emissions and microbial community structure and function in paddy soil
Researchers examined how low-density polyethylene microplastics and biochar interact when added to paddy soil, affecting greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities. The study found that both amendments significantly increased methane emissions while suppressing carbon dioxide output, and their combined presence altered soil microbial community structure and functional gene abundances in ways that influence biogeochemical processes.
Polyethylene microplastics distinctly affect soil microbial community and carbon and nitrogen cycling during plant litter decomposition
Researchers measured how polyethylene microplastics affect soil microbial communities and carbon cycling in agricultural soils, finding that microplastic addition shifted microbial diversity and suppressed key carbon mineralization processes. The results suggest microplastic accumulation in farmland could impair soil carbon storage.