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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics could alter invasive plant community performance and the dominance of Amaranthus palmeri
ClearEffect of microplastics on the allelopathic effects of native and invasive plants on co-occurring invaders
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics in soil enhanced the growth of both native and invasive plant species under competitive and non-competitive conditions. The microplastics also induced negative allelopathic effects from the native plant Achyranthes on neighboring plants, mediated through changes in leaf chemistry. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could alter competitive dynamics between native and invasive species by modifying plant chemical interactions.
High invader density alone drives invasive plant dominance, but its impacts on native community biomass and diversity depend on nutrients and microplastics
A mesocosm experiment using invasive aquatic plants found that high invader density is the main driver of invasive species dominance in freshwater systems, but the impact on native plant diversity and productivity depends on whether the water is also enriched with nutrients or contaminated with microplastics. This study highlights that microplastic pollution can interact with other stressors like nutrient runoff to shape how biological invasions unfold in freshwater ecosystems, with cascading consequences for native plant communities.
Microplastics amplify the invasive potential of Flavidium bidentis in invaded communities
Researchers examined how microplastics affect the competitive interactions and invasive potential of Flavidium bidentis in native plant communities, measuring growth traits and interspecific relationships across microplastic exposure treatments. Results indicated that microplastics amplified the invasive advantage of F. bidentis over native species, raising concern that widespread soil microplastic contamination may accelerate plant invasions.
Nitrogen deposition modulates invasibility and stability of plant communities in microplastic-contaminated wetlands
A greenhouse experiment found that polyethylene microplastics combined with nitrogen deposition reduced morphological traits of invaded wetland plant communities, altering competitive dynamics between invasive and native plants.
Microplastics promote the invasiveness of invasive alien species under fluctuating water regime
Researchers found that microplastic pollution in soil can enhance the invasiveness of alien plant species, particularly under fluctuating water conditions that simulate extreme rainfall events. The microplastics altered soil properties in ways that gave invasive plants a competitive advantage over native species. The study highlights a previously overlooked interaction between two major environmental threats: microplastic contamination and biological invasions.
The promoting effects of soil microplastics on alien plant invasion depend on microplastic shape and concentration
A greenhouse experiment showed that soil microplastic pollution can help invasive plant species outcompete native plants. The invasive goldenrod grew better in soil contaminated with certain shapes and concentrations of polyethylene microplastics, while the native species was less affected. This suggests that microplastic pollution in soil could worsen the spread of invasive plants, with knock-on effects for ecosystems and agriculture.
Antagonistic Interaction Between Microplastics and Herbivory on the Growth of Native and Invasive Plants
This study tested the individual and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and herbivory on native and invasive plants, finding an antagonistic interaction where herbivore damage and MP stress partially offset each other's growth effects, with implications for invasive plant management.
Increasing soil microplastic diversity decreases community biomass via its impact on the most dominant species
Researchers experimentally mixed different numbers and types of microplastics into soil hosting six plant species, finding that greater variety of microplastic types in the soil reduced total plant biomass — mainly by suppressing the growth of the dominant grass species. The results suggest that real-world environments contaminated with multiple types of microplastics may suffer greater ecological harm than studies using a single plastic type would predict.
The more microplastic types pollute the soil, the stronger the growth suppression of invasive alien and native plants
Researchers grew 16 plant species in soil contaminated with varying numbers of microplastic types and found that plant growth declined more as the diversity of microplastics increased. Invasive species were particularly affected, losing their typical growth advantage over native plants when exposed to multiple microplastic types. The study suggests that real-world soil contamination, which typically involves a mix of different plastics, may suppress plant growth more than single-plastic experiments have shown.
Microplastics enhance the invasion of exotic submerged macrophytes by mediating plant functional traits, sediment properties, and microbial communities
This study found that polystyrene microplastics in water helped invasive aquatic plants grow stronger and spread more effectively, while native plants were not similarly boosted. The microplastics changed soil chemistry and disrupted bacterial communities in ways that specifically favored the invasive species. This research shows that microplastic pollution could accelerate the spread of invasive plants in lakes and rivers, further threatening aquatic ecosystem health.
The native submerged plant, Hydrilla verticillata outperforms its exotic confamilial with exposure to polyamide microplastic pollution: Implication for wetland revegetation and potential driving mechanism
Researchers found that a native aquatic plant species maintained its growth when exposed to polyamide microplastic pollution, while an invasive species declined. This suggests that native plants may be better choices for restoring waterways contaminated with microplastics. The study provides practical guidance for wetland restoration efforts in areas affected by microplastic pollution.
Microplastics and cadmium affect invasion success by altering complementarity and selection effects in native community
Researchers tested how microplastics and cadmium individually and together affect invasive plant success in native plant communities of varying diversity. Microplastics alone reduced invasion success by up to 63% in high-diversity communities, while cadmium increased invasive plant biomass by 40%, but microplastics suppressed this cadmium-driven boost.
Soil pollution and the invasion of congener Sphagneticola in crop lands
Researchers examined how agricultural pollutants, including microplastics and nanopesticides, affect competition between native and invasive Sphagneticola plant species in croplands. The study found that microplastic and nanopesticide pollution in soil may facilitate the invasion of non-native plant species by altering growth dynamics, suggesting that agricultural contamination could compound ecological disruption in farming ecosystems.
Plastic particles and their additives promote plant invasion through physicochemical mechanisms on seed germination
Scientists found that microplastic particles in soil harmed the germination of native European grassland plants, reducing sprouting speed and total germination by up to 30%. Invasive plant species, however, were mostly unaffected by the same microplastic exposure. This suggests that plastic pollution in soil could shift the balance between native and invasive plants, potentially threatening biodiversity.
Microplastics as habitat-dependent ecological filters: facilitating plant invasion in water while reinforcing biotic resistance on land
Researchers investigated whether microplastics act as context-dependent ecological filters that differently affect invasive and native plant species in aquatic versus terrestrial habitats. The study found that microplastics facilitated plant invasion in water while reinforcing biotic resistance on land, with effects varying by polymer type and particle size across polyethylene, nylon, and biodegradable PLA.
Effects of Microplastics, Fertilization and Pesticides on Alien and Native Plants
A full factorial greenhouse experiment found that microplastics promoted biomass production of native plants at higher nutrient availability while having differential effects on alien plant dominance, suggesting plastic mulch and fertilizer accumulation in soil could alter plant community composition.
RhizosphereKeystoneMicrobiomes Promote InvasivePlant Growth under PLA and PVC Microplastic Stress: A ComparativeStudy with Native Species
A mesocosm experiment compared the growth responses of invasive and native plant species to PLA (biodegradable) and PVC (conventional) microplastics in soil. Invasive plants outperformed native species under MP stress partly due to shifts in rhizosphere keystone microbiomes, suggesting microplastics may amplify invasion success.
Microplastic-contamination can reshape plant community by affecting soil properties
Researchers investigated how polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics affect naturally germinated plant communities by altering soil properties. The study found that microplastics changed soil nutrient availability, decreased community stability, and shifted plant species composition, with total phosphorus identified as the strongest driver of changes in plant community structure.
Microplastics Alter Growth and Reproduction Strategy of Scirpus mariqueter by Modifying Soil Nutrient Availability
Researchers exposed the coastal wetland plant Scirpus mariqueter to four microplastic types (PP, PE, PS, PET) at three concentrations and found microplastics altered plant biomass, vegetative traits, and reproductive allocation, with PET and PS causing the strongest effects by disrupting soil nutrient availability.
The effects of microplastics on crop variation depend on polymer types and their interactions with soil nutrient availability and weed competition
Researchers investigated how different types of microplastics interact with soil nutrient availability and weed competition to affect crop growth. The study found that the effects of microplastics on plant performance depend on the polymer type and are modulated by fertilization levels and competition from weeds, suggesting that real-world agricultural impacts of microplastic pollution may be more complex than laboratory studies indicate.
Micro(nano)plastics and Terrestrial Invasive Plants
This research review summarizes 26 studies showing that tiny plastic particles in the environment usually help invasive weeds grow stronger and outcompete native plants. These microplastics, which come from things like plastic bottles and bags breaking down, change the soil in ways that often give invasive plants an advantage over the plants that naturally belong in an area. This matters because it could make invasive species problems worse, potentially affecting food crops and natural ecosystems that humans depend on.
Combined Inhibitory Effect of Canada Goldenrod Invasion and Soil Microplastics on Rice Growth
Researchers found that the combination of invasive Canada goldenrod plants and soil microplastics reduced rice biomass and disrupted antioxidant enzyme activity more severely than either stressor alone, suggesting that microplastic pollution can amplify the agricultural harm caused by invasive plant species.
Rhizosphere Keystone Microbiomes Promote Invasive Plant Growth under PLA and PVC Microplastic Stress: A Comparative Study with Native Species
Researchers compared how invasive and native plant species respond to soil contaminated with biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics. Invasive plants experienced less growth inhibition and selectively enriched beneficial bacteria in their root zones, forming more stable microbial networks. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in soils may inadvertently give invasive species a competitive advantage over native plants.
Sources, migration, accumulation and influence of microplastics in terrestrial plant communities
This review examined microplastic sources, migration, and accumulation in terrestrial plant communities, highlighting how microplastics affect plant growth, soil properties, and ecosystem functions at the community level rather than just individual plants.