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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps
ClearA 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.
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.
Canopy Accumulation: Are Seagrass Meadows a Sink of Microplastics?
This meta-analysis investigates whether seagrass meadows accumulate more microplastics than surrounding bare sediments. The findings show that while microplastics are nearly everywhere in coastal sediments, seagrass beds do not concentrate them at higher levels than other areas. However, the widespread contamination is still concerning because many fish species depend on seagrass habitats, creating a pathway for plastics to enter the food chain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The role of seagrass meadows in the coastal trapping of litter
Researchers studied how seagrass meadows trap and accumulate non-floating marine litter, including microplastics, across six Posidonia oceanica meadows. The study found that litter accumulated mainly at the landside edge of the meadow, with macro-litter concentrations increasing threefold after heavy rainfall, suggesting seagrass plays an important role in coastal litter dynamics.
Seagrass beds reveal high abundance of microplastic in sediments: A case study in the Baltic Sea
Seagrass bed sediments in the Baltic Sea were found to harbor significantly higher microplastic concentrations than surrounding bare sediments, indicating that seagrass canopies trap and accumulate microplastics and may be underappreciated hotspots of contamination.
The interaction between seagrass meadow density and microplastic retention in four cool-temperate estuaries
Researchers examined whether seagrass meadows trap microplastics in their sediments across four South African estuaries. They found that in three of the four estuaries, dense seagrass beds contained more microplastics than bare sediment, with fibers and fragments being the most common types caught. The study confirms that seagrasses can act as natural filters for microplastic pollution, though the potential effects of trapped plastics on seagrass health remain unknown.
Anthropogenic microparticles accumulation in small-bodied seagrass meadows: The case of tropical estuarine species in Brazil
Researchers assessed the accumulation of anthropogenic microparticles in small-bodied seagrass meadows in a tropical estuary in Brazil. The study found microparticles in 80% of samples, predominantly fibers, suggesting that seagrass meadows may act as traps for microplastic pollution in coastal environments, with implications for the organisms that depend on these habitats.
The power of Posidonia oceanica meadows to retain microplastics and the consequences on associated macrofaunal benthic communities
Researchers investigated how Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows accumulate microplastics in coastal sediments and the consequences for associated marine communities. The study found differences in microplastic abundance and composition at various depths and between vegetated and unvegetated sites, suggesting that seagrass beds may act as sinks for microplastic pollution with potential impacts on benthic organisms.
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.
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.
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.
Accumulation of microplastics in relation to the sediment grain size distribution in seagrass meadows in the coastal areas of Tuticorin, southeast coast of India
Researchers investigated the relationship between microplastic accumulation and sediment texture in seagrass meadows along the southeast coast of India. They found that seagrass sediments contained significantly higher microplastic concentrations than unvegetated areas, with polyethylene being the most common polymer detected. The findings suggest that seagrass meadows act as traps for microplastic pollutants, with sediment grain size influencing accumulation patterns.
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.
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.
Microplastics in the mix: types and retention of microplastics within a mixed species seagrass meadow in the Tamar Estuary
Researchers examined microplastic types and retention patterns within a mixed-species seagrass meadow composed of Nanozostera noltei and Zostera marina in the Tamar Estuary, Plymouth Sound, UK, assessing how seagrass shoot density influences microplastic trapping. The study provides evidence that seagrass beds act as significant microplastic sinks in coastal estuarine systems.
Role of saltmarsh systems in estuarine trapping of microplastics
Researchers found that saltmarsh vegetation significantly enhances the trapping of microplastics in estuarine sediments compared to adjacent bare mudflats, suggesting that these coastal ecosystems act as important sinks for plastic pollution under tidal flow conditions.
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.
One hundred priority questions for advancing seagrass conservation in Europe
European researchers identified 100 key questions that need answering to better protect seagrass ecosystems, which are underwater meadows vital for carbon storage, biodiversity, and coastal protection. While not directly about microplastics, seagrass beds act as filters that can trap microplastic pollution and are themselves threatened by it. Protecting these ecosystems could play an important role in reducing microplastic contamination in coastal waters.