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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Shadow distributions: Deconstructing the geography of human impacts on species' natural distribution
ClearEffects of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the distribution and abundance of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems
Researchers reviewed nearly 6,500 articles to identify the environmental and human factors driving microplastic distribution in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. They found that both natural factors like water flow and temperature, and human activities like urbanization and agriculture, significantly influence where microplastics accumulate in rivers and lakes. The study provides a framework for predicting microplastic pollution hotspots and prioritizing monitoring efforts in freshwater systems.
Forrageando no Antropoceno: explorando as dinâmicas de reservatórios e poluição plástica em organismos de água doce.
This systematic review examines how reservoir construction and plastic pollution affect freshwater organisms. It highlights that microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems threatens the organisms that make up food chains, with potential consequences for the safety of drinking water and freshwater food sources.
Predicting microplastic masses in river networks with high spatial resolution at country level
Scientists built a computer model to predict microplastic levels in every section of Switzerland's rivers and lakes for seven different plastic types. They found that the amount of microplastics in any given spot depends heavily on local features like nearby lakes, land use, and river connections, not just population density. This kind of detailed mapping helps identify pollution hotspots and assess where human exposure through drinking water might be highest.
Modelling to inform the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems: A synthesis of five case studies
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper presents five modeling case studies for managing aquatic ecosystems under threats including invasive species, over-exploitation, and climate change; microplastics are briefly mentioned as one of many stressors but are not the paper's focus.
The urban microplastic footprint: investigating the distribution and transport
Researchers investigated the distribution and transport of microplastics within an urban environment, mapping the 'urban microplastic footprint' to understand how city infrastructure and land use patterns drive the spatial distribution and downstream export of plastic particles to receiving water bodies.
Indicators to assess temporal variability in marine connectivity processes: A semi-theoretical approach
Not relevant to microplastics — this is an oceanography study developing indicators to characterize temporal variability in marine connectivity for designing effective marine protected area networks in the Mediterranean.
Modeling the spatiotemporal distribution, bioaccumulation, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: A review
Researchers modeled the spatiotemporal distribution and ecological risk of microplastics across a coastal marine environment, incorporating hydrodynamic data and bioaccumulation factors for multiple species. The model predicted highest microplastic concentrations near urban outflows with risk extending through the food web.
Mapping the plastic legacy: Geospatial predictions of a microplastic inventory in a complex estuarine system using machine learning
Researchers applied machine learning techniques to develop geospatial predictions of microplastic inventory in a complex estuarine system, overcoming the limitations of coarse ocean basin models by accounting for the intricate geomorphological and hydrodynamic conditions that govern sediment-associated microplastic distribution.
Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Multitiered Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Researchers proposed a multi-level framework for assessing the ecological risks of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, combining statistical analysis, mechanistic modeling, and machine learning. The framework addresses how microplastics accumulate through food chains, interact with other pollutants, and affect organisms at different levels. The study provides a structured approach that could help environmental managers better evaluate and respond to microplastic pollution in waterways.
Distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems in an urbanized region: A case study in Flanders (Belgium)
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across freshwater systems in Flanders, Belgium, finding widespread contamination with concentrations varying by land use and urbanization level, providing a regional-scale assessment needed for risk evaluation in densely populated areas.
Decoding the PlasticPatch: Exploring the Global MicroplasticDistribution in the Surface Layers of Marine Regions with InterpretableMachine Learning
Researchers applied four interpretable machine learning algorithms to a calibrated global marine microplastic dataset to construct a predictive model of surface-layer microplastic distribution, finding that biogeochemical and anthropogenic factors are the dominant drivers of global marine microplastic pollution patterns.
Revealing the role of land-use features on macrolitter distribution in Swiss freshwaters.
Analysis of macrolitter on Swiss riverbanks and lake shores showed that land-use patterns — particularly urban areas and agricultural land — were key predictors of litter abundance. The findings highlight the importance of land management and waste infrastructure in preventing plastic and other litter from entering freshwater systems and ultimately reaching the ocean.
Eutrophication ExacerbatesMicroplastic BioaccumulationRisks in Coastal Fish
Researchers developed an improved sparrow search algorithm combined with geographic random forest (ISSA-GRF) to model microplastic bioaccumulation risks in 82 coastal fish species across 22 marine ecosystems, finding that bioaccumulation rates have increased by an average of 3.56% and that eutrophication is a significant exacerbating factor.
Species Distribution Model (SDM) Predicts the Spread of Invasive Nile Tilapia in the Sensitive Inland Water System of the Southeastern Arabian Peninsula Under Climate Change
Not relevant to microplastics — this study uses species distribution models with CMIP6 climate projections to predict the potential spread of invasive Nile tilapia in the freshwater systems of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula.
Abundance, Distribution and Drivers of Microplastic Contaminant in Urban River Environments
Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in urban river environments and identified key drivers of accumulation hotspots, finding that land use, hydrology, and infrastructure factors concentrated microplastics at predictable locations that could inform targeted management interventions.
Synergistic Impact of Complex Topography and Climate Variability on the Loss of Microclimate Heterogeneity in Southeast Asia
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper analyzes how topography and climate variability have driven declining microclimate heterogeneity in Southeast Asia between 1982 and 2017, with implications for regional biodiversity.
Mapping microplastic overlap between marine compartments and biodiversity in a Mediterranean marine protected area
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across water, sediment, and biota in a Mediterranean marine protected area, revealing significant overlap between microplastic hotspots and biodiversity-rich zones, raising concerns about ecological impacts in supposedly protected habitats.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastic particles
Researchers applied an ecological risk assessment framework to evaluate the hazard posed by microplastic particles across multiple environmental compartments, using species sensitivity distributions and environmental concentration data. The assessment highlighted specific particle types and size ranges that present the greatest ecological risk.
Ecological risks in a ‘plastic’ world: A threat to biological diversity?
This review synthesized evidence on how microplastic pollution affects biological diversity and community structure across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, finding that most studies document effects at the individual level but that community- and ecosystem-level impacts remain poorly characterized.
Occurrence of microplastic pollution in rivers globally: Driving factors of distribution and ecological risk assessment
Researchers constructed a global dataset of microplastic pollution across 862 river water and 445 sediment samples, identifying population density, GDP, and plastic waste generation as key driving factors of riverine microplastic distribution and ecological risk.
Mapping global microplastic pollution: Integrating advanced detection and monitoring in aquatic ecosystems
This review maps the global distribution of microplastic contamination across marine, river, lake, and estuarine environments using advanced detection and monitoring methods. Researchers found that contamination is widespread across all aquatic ecosystems, with significant variation driven by local sources and water dynamics. The study emphasizes the need for cross-compartment monitoring approaches that track how microplastics move between air, land, and water systems.
Decoding the Plastic Patch: Exploring the Global Microplastic Distribution in the Surface Layers of Marine Regions with Interpretable Machine Learning
Researchers used interpretable machine learning algorithms to predict global marine microplastic distribution patterns based on calibrated field data. The study found that biogeochemical and human activity factors had the greatest influence on microplastic concentrations, which ranged from about 0.2 to 27 particles per cubic meter across the world's oceans, providing a framework for pollution management and decision-making.
Battle Models: Inception ResNet vs. Extreme Inception for Marine Fish Object Detection
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper compares two deep learning models (Inception ResNet and Xception) for detecting and classifying marine fish species in underwater images, with no connection to plastic pollution.
Risco ambiental de poluição por microplásticos: a importância da análise de distribuição espacial
This Portuguese-language paper discusses the importance of spatial distribution analysis for assessing microplastic pollution risk in aquatic environments. The authors argue that mapping where microplastics accumulate — rather than just measuring average concentrations — is critical for identifying hotspots and protecting ecosystems and human health. This paper is a methodological commentary rather than a primary pollution study.