Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Seagrass under siege: Investigating microplastic effects on seagrass ecosystems

Researchers reviewed the current evidence for microplastic effects on seagrass meadows, covering physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms of harm. The review found that microplastics impair seagrass photosynthesis, root function, and associated fauna, threatening these ecologically critical coastal habitats.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Impact of Microplastic (MP) Pollution in Seagrass Ecosystem

This review examines the growing threat of microplastic pollution to seagrass ecosystems, which provide critical ecological, economic, and social services in coastal areas. Researchers found that microplastics accumulate in seagrass beds and can affect the health of these habitats and associated marine life. The study suggests that more research and targeted mitigation strategies are needed to protect these vital underwater ecosystems from plastic contamination.

2024 Current World Environment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Seagrass under siege: Investigating microplastic effects on seagrass ecosystems

Researchers reviewed the effects of microplastics on seagrass meadows, which are ecologically critical habitats that also trap and accumulate particulate matter. Evidence suggests microplastics can impair seagrass growth, root function, and associated fauna in these vulnerable ecosystems.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The under-investigated plastic threat on seagrasses worldwide: a comprehensive review

This review synthesizes a decade of research on the threat that plastic pollution poses to seagrass ecosystems worldwide. The study found that despite growing recognition of marine plastic pollution, the impacts on seagrasses remain significantly understudied compared to other marine habitats, with evidence suggesting that plastics of all sizes can affect seagrass health through physical smothering, chemical leaching, and altered sediment conditions.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 11 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Plastic Pollution as a Driver of Seagrass Ecosystem Degradation: a Systematic Review of Impacts and Mitigation Approaches

This systematic review examines how plastic pollution threatens seagrass ecosystems, which are vital for carbon storage, coastal protection, and marine biodiversity. Microplastics and larger debris smother seagrass beds, block light, and introduce harmful chemicals into sediments. Losing these habitats has cascading effects on fish populations and the communities that depend on healthy coastal waters.

2025 Environmental Contaminants Reviews
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the seagrass ecosystems: A critical review

This review critically assessed microplastic contamination in seagrass ecosystems worldwide, finding that these nearshore habitats accumulate significant plastic pollution due to their proximity to human activities and the trapping effect of submerged vegetation.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 41 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of microplastic impacts on seagrasses, epiphytes, and associated sediment communities

This review synthesizes research on microplastic accumulation in seagrass ecosystems, examining effects on seagrass plants, epiphytic communities, and associated sediment biota. The authors identify seagrass meadows as both sinks for microplastics and potentially sensitive ecosystems where plastic contamination may disrupt complex ecological relationships.

2022 Environmental Pollution 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic, an Emerging Threat to the Global Seagrass Ecosystems: A Review

This review examined microplastic pollution as an emerging threat to global seagrass ecosystems, summarizing contamination levels in seagrass meadows worldwide and effects on seagrass physiology, associated fauna, and carbon sequestration capacity. Microplastic ingestion and physical smothering were identified as the most significant direct impacts on seagrass organisms.

2025 Environmental Quality Management
Systematic Review Tier 1

A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps

This systematic review of 84 studies finds that seagrass meadows act as natural traps for microplastics, accumulating higher concentrations in their sediments than surrounding areas. While this filtering role may protect open waters, it also means these important coastal ecosystems are bearing a disproportionate burden of plastic pollution.

2026 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Factors influencing microplastic abundances in the sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll

Researchers investigated factors controlling microplastic abundance in sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll. They found that seagrass density, water flow patterns, and proximity to human settlements all influenced microplastic accumulation, with denser seagrass meadows trapping more particles in their sediments. The study raises concerns that microplastic buildup in seagrass ecosystems could threaten the ecological services these habitats provide, including carbon storage and biodiversity support.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of Seagrass Bed Pollution

This review summarizes the major threats facing seagrass ecosystems worldwide, including pollution from microplastics, heavy metals, and nutrient runoff from human activities. Researchers highlight how seagrass beds, which are critical habitats for marine biodiversity, are declining at an accelerating rate due to these combined stressors. The study identifies key research gaps and proposes future directions for understanding and protecting these vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

2023 Water 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in Coastal Waters of Southeast Asia: Implications for Marine Ecosystems and Human Health

This review assessed microplastic contamination in coastal waters across Southeast Asia, synthesizing monitoring data to identify pollution hot spots, dominant polymer types, and the implications for regional marine ecosystem health.

2024 International Journal of Natural Science Studies and Development. 1 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps

This systematic review of 84 studies finds that seagrass meadows act as natural traps for microplastics, accumulating higher concentrations in their sediments than surrounding areas. While this filtering role may protect open waters, it raises concerns about the long-term health of these vital coastal ecosystems.

2026 BIO Web of Conferences
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic contamination in Southeast Asia’s blue carbon habitats – systematic review paper with bibliometric approach

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in Southeast Asia's mangrove forests and seagrass meadows, critical ecosystems that store carbon and support biodiversity. The findings show that these blue carbon habitats are increasingly contaminated with microplastics, threatening both ecosystem health and the coastal communities that depend on these environments for food and livelihood.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Seagrass beds acting as a trap of microplastics - Emerging hotspot in the coastal region?

Seagrass beds in coastal waters were found to trap and accumulate microplastics at higher concentrations than surrounding unvegetated sediments, acting as effective sinks for plastic particles due to their dense canopy structure. This positions seagrass meadows as emerging hotspots of microplastic contamination in coastal ecosystems.

2019 Environmental Pollution 215 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments: A Comprehensive Review on Distribution, Concentration, Toxicity and Ecological Risks in Southeast Asia

This review covers microplastic distribution, concentration, toxicity, and ecological risks in aquatic ecosystems across Southeast Asia, summarizing the physical and chemical hazards to aquatic organisms including ingestion blockage, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and biomagnification.

2025 Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Article Tier 2

Insightful analytical review of potential impacts of microplastic pollution on coastal and marine ecosystem services

This analytical review assessed how microplastic debris disrupts ecological functions of marine and coastal habitats, including mangroves and seagrass ecosystems, identifying critical knowledge gaps around microbial impacts and calling for coordinated global research on supporting ecosystem services most vulnerable to microplastic interference.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Seagrasses provide a novel ecosystem service by trapping marine plastics

Researchers found up to 1,470 plastic items per kg in beached seagrass remains and aegagropilae (seagrass fiber balls), showing that seagrass meadows trap plastic debris — primarily negatively buoyant polymer filaments — and transport them back to shore via natural aggregation.

2021 Scientific Reports 165 citations
Article Tier 2

Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient

Researchers examined how seagrass beds trap microplastics and other anthropogenic particles by sampling along a vegetation cover gradient from dense beds to less vegetated patches. The study found that seagrass vegetation enhances the accumulation of plastic debris in both sediment and among plant structures. Evidence indicates that seagrass ecosystems act as significant sinks for microplastic pollution, with implications for the organisms that depend on these habitats.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Trends in Seagrass Research and Conservation in Malaysian Waters

This review summarizes seagrass research and conservation efforts in Malaysian waters, covering the ecology, threats, and monitoring of these coastal ecosystems. Seagrass meadows are sensitive to plastic debris and runoff, and their health is an indicator of the broader condition of coastal marine environments.

2023 Journal of Tropical Life Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seagrass ecosystems: A review of fate and impacts

This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in seagrass ecosystems, which are important coastal habitats that support biodiversity and capture carbon. Microplastics can accumulate in seagrass sediments and be ingested by the fish and invertebrates living there, entering coastal food webs. Since seagrass meadows also support commercial fisheries, microplastic contamination in these ecosystems could affect the safety of seafood that reaches human plates.

2024 Research in Ecology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate and Effects of Macro- and Microplastics in Coastal Wetlands

Researchers compiled data from 112 studies to evaluate how macro- and microplastics accumulate in and affect coastal wetlands including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. They found that plastic concentrations in wetland sediments and marine animals were roughly 200 times higher than in the water column, indicating these ecosystems act as major plastic sinks. The study warns that plastic accumulation can alter sediment properties, harm wildlife, and disrupt the carbon storage function of these critical habitats.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 137 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Singapore’s coastal mangrove ecosystems

Researchers sampled coastal mangrove ecosystems in Singapore and found microplastics throughout, demonstrating that mangrove habitats accumulate plastic pollution and raising concerns for the organisms that depend on these ecologically important coastal forests.

2013 Marine Pollution Bulletin 977 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of seagrass meadows in the accumulation of microplastics: Insights from a South African estuary

Researchers investigated whether seagrass meadows accumulate microplastics in a South African estuary, finding no significant difference in microplastic abundance between seagrass sediments and adjacent bare sediments at the small spatial scale studied.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 30 citations