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20 resultsShowing papers similar to The impact of microplastics on lake communities: A mesocosm study
ClearEffects of a microplastic mixture differ across trophic levels and taxa in a freshwater food web: In situ mesocosm experiment
Researchers conducted the first in situ mesocosm experiment testing the effects of a microplastic mixture on a freshwater lake food web, spanning multiple trophic levels. The study found that microplastic effects varied across different organisms and trophic levels, providing important community-level evidence that laboratory findings may not fully predict how microplastics impact real aquatic ecosystems.
Microplastics at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations Had Minimal Impacts on Pelagic Zooplankton Communities in a Large In-Lake Mesocosm Experiment
Researchers conducted a large-scale 10-week mesocosm experiment in a Canadian boreal lake to assess microplastic impacts on zooplankton at environmentally relevant concentrations. They found that zooplankton ingested low levels of microplastics and their overall abundance and community composition were not negatively impacted. However, temporary effects were observed, including stimulation of some species and short-term reductions in egg production, suggesting microplastics may have complex but limited effects at current environmental levels.
Long-term exposure of a free-living freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in microcosms
Researchers exposed a natural freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in long-term microcosm experiments, finding community-level effects that differ from single-species studies and highlighting the importance of realistic multi-polymer exposure scenarios.
Microplastics in lakes and rivers: an issue of emerging significance to limnology
Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in freshwater lakes and rivers can exceed those of living organisms like zooplankton, with sediment levels matching the most contaminated marine sites, establishing microplastics as a significant issue for limnology.
Effects of microplastic particles on carbon source metabolism and bacterial community in freshwater lake sediments
A microcosm experiment tested how four common plastic types affect carbon metabolism and bacterial communities in freshwater lake sediments, finding that microplastics disrupted microbial carbon cycling and altered community composition.
High macroplastic pollution in a subtropical urban lake affects macroinvertebrate community structure
Researchers examined the effects of high macroplastic pollution in a subtropical urban lake on macroinvertebrate communities, finding that plastic debris significantly altered benthic assemblages and reduced biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems that have received less ecological attention than marine environments.
Effects of microplastics on the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments of a freshwater lake
Researchers examined how microplastics alter the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments, finding that plastic exposure shifted community composition and reduced overall diversity compared to plastic-free controls. Functional analysis showed impaired denitrification and organic matter decomposition in microplastic-contaminated sediments, indicating ecosystem-level consequences for nutrient cycling.
Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a floodplain lake
Researchers surveyed macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a South American floodplain lake and found an average of 704 microplastic particles per square meter in sediments, with plastic contamination comparable to marine beaches — demonstrating that freshwater lakes can be major plastic pollution reservoirs.
In Situ Effects of a Microplastic Mixture on the Community Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in a Freshwater Pond
Researchers conducted an in situ mesocosm experiment adding a realistic microplastic mixture to freshwater pond sediments and monitored benthic macroinvertebrate communities over time, finding that MP exposure shifted community composition and reduced taxonomic richness at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Microplastics and riverine macroinvertebrate communities in a multiple-stressor context: A mesocosm approach
Researchers conducted a seven-week experiment using streamside channels to study how microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect freshwater invertebrate communities, both alone and combined with fine sediment. They found that microplastic effects on invertebrate abundance and community composition were generally modest compared to the well-known impacts of sediment pollution. The study suggests that in real-world streams facing multiple stressors, microplastics may not be the dominant threat to bottom-dwelling organisms.
Nano- and microplastics affect the composition of freshwater benthic communities in the long term
Researchers conducted a 15-month mesocosm experiment exposing freshwater communities to five concentrations of nano- and microplastics, assessing long-term effects on community composition under ecologically realistic conditions. The study found that chronic exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations affected the composition of freshwater microalgal assemblages.
Microplastic exposure across trophic levels: effects on the host–microbiota of freshwater organisms
Researchers examined how microplastic exposure across trophic levels affects the gut microbiota of freshwater organisms, finding that microplastics alter microbial community composition and that effects can transfer through food web interactions.
Experimental evaluation of microplastic consumption by using a size-fractionation approach in the planktonic communities
Researchers found that microplastic particles significantly reduced consumption across all size fractions of natural plankton communities from a Brazilian tropical lake, with smaller particles having greater consumption effects and lower trophic levels such as protists showing the highest impact.
Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions
Researchers tested how different microplastic properties, including concentration, shape, and polymer type, affect microbial communities and ecosystem functions in freshwater environments. They found that the presence of an invertebrate consumer had a stronger influence on microbial activity than the microplastics themselves, though high concentrations of certain particle shapes did alter community composition. The study suggests that the ecological effects of microplastics in freshwater depend heavily on the broader biological context.
No Effect of Realistic Concentrations of Polyester Microplastic Fibers on Freshwater Zooplankton Communities
Researchers tested whether realistic concentrations of polyester microplastic fibers affect freshwater zooplankton communities in experimental settings. The study found no significant effects on zooplankton abundance, diversity, or community structure at environmentally relevant concentrations, suggesting that current levels of fiber pollution may not substantially impact these organisms.
Freshwater Lacustrine Zooplankton and Microplastic: An Issue to Be Still Explored
This review examined the interactions between freshwater lacustrine zooplankton and microplastics, highlighting how microplastic ingestion affects planktonic organisms that form the base of lake food webs. The authors call for more research on lake-specific microplastic dynamics.
Microbial biofilm formation and community structure on low-density polyethylene microparticles in lake water microcosms
Researchers investigated biofilm formation on low-density polyethylene microparticles in lake water microcosms, finding that microplastic surfaces supported distinct and dynamic microbial communities that differed from those in the surrounding water.
Lacustrine plastisphere: Distinct succession and assembly processes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and role of site, time, and polymer types
Researchers investigated how microbial communities colonize different types of microplastic polymers in freshwater lakes. The study found that bacteria and single-celled organisms follow distinct assembly patterns on microplastic surfaces, with colonization time, location, and polymer type all influencing community composition. These findings suggest microplastics serve as carriers that can promote microbial spread in aquatic environments.
Contrasting the effects of microplastic types, concentrations and nutrient enrichment on freshwater communities and ecosystem functioning
Researchers tested two types of microplastics, conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid, in outdoor freshwater mesocosms and found that neither type significantly affected community composition or ecosystem functions like algae growth and leaf decomposition. Even at concentrations known to cause harm in lab settings, the microplastics had minimal impact when tested in more realistic ecological conditions. The study suggests that real-world microplastic effects on freshwater communities may differ from laboratory predictions.
Combined impacts of micoplastic type, concentrations and nutrient loading on freshwater communities and ecosystems
Researchers used 40 outdoor freshwater mesocosms to test the independent and interactive effects of microplastic type (conventional vs. bio-based biodegradable), particle concentration, and nutrient enrichment on pelagic community structure and ecosystem functions including phytoplankton biomass, periphyton productivity, and leaf litter decomposition, finding no significant impacts at the ecosystem scale.