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Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Assessing wetlands ecological risk through an adaptive cycle framework
ClearA new holistic perspective to assess the ecological risk of microplastics: A case study in Baiyangdian Basin, China
Researchers developed a more comprehensive method for assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution by considering not just concentration but also the physical and chemical properties of the particles. Applied to a Chinese wetland basin, the approach revealed that traditional methods significantly underestimate the true ecological risk, with human activity and poor water flow contributing to the highest danger zones.
Evaluation of plateau wetland ecological security and its influencing factors in multi-climatic zones: A case study of Yunnan Province
Not a microplastics paper — this study assesses the ecological security of plateau wetlands across Yunnan Province, China using a pressure-state-response model based on remote sensing data, identifying climate and human activity as key threats to these fragile ecosystems.
Priorities identification of habitat restoration for migratory birds under the early dry season: A case study of Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake wetlands, China
This paper is not about microplastics; it develops a priority framework for wetland habitat restoration for migratory birds at Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake in China, focusing on ecological and landscape analysis with no connection to microplastic research.
Source, fate, toxicity, and remediation of micro-plastic in wetlands: A critical review
Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter, accumulate in, and damage natural wetlands — ecosystems that filter water and support biodiversity — finding that while wetlands may actually trap plastic particles like a sink, the resulting contamination poses serious ecological risks that are still poorly understood.
Ecological risk assessment of marine microplastics using the analytic hierarchy process: A case study in the Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent marine areas
An ecological risk assessment framework using the analytic hierarchy process was applied to microplastics in the Yangtze River Estuary, combining pressure, status, and response indicators to produce a composite risk index that identified moderate to high ecological risk in the estuary and adjacent marine areas.
Refining the Aquatic Microplastic Risk Assessment Framework through Dynamic Flux Simulation and Ecological Thresholds
Researchers developed a coupled hydrological-transport model and species-sensitivity-based risk framework for riverine microplastics, applying it to the Jinsha River on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and finding that spatially adjusting ecological risk thresholds based on local species richness places 13–43% of the watershed at medium-to-high microplastic risk.
Recent advances towards micro(nano)plastics research in wetland ecosystems: A systematic review on sources, removal, and ecological impacts
Wetland ecosystems act as important sinks for micro- and nanoplastics, which were found to cause ecotoxicological effects on wetland plants, animals, and microbial communities, including shifts in microbial composition relevant to pollutant removal. Micro/nanoplastics exposure also affected conventional pollutant removal efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions from wetland systems.
Microplastics: addressing ecological risk through lessons learned
Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic ecological risk assessment and proposed applying lessons learned from more established fields of environmental research. The study suggests that despite widespread concern about microplastic pollution, scientific understanding of actual ecological risk remains limited, and future research should follow more rigorous risk assessment frameworks.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastics in freshwater ecosystems
Researchers assessed the ecological risk of microplastics across freshwater ecosystems worldwide, including rivers and lakes in China, Vietnam, Europe, and South America. While one risk method showed negligible danger, more comprehensive assessment approaches revealed extreme ecological threats at every location studied, suggesting that microplastic pollution in freshwater may be more serious than previously thought.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastic particles
Researchers developed a framework for assessing the ecological risk of microplastic particles, incorporating particle characteristics, environmental concentrations, and species sensitivity data. The assessment identified conditions under which current environmental microplastic levels pose significant risk to aquatic organisms.
Abundance of microplastics in a typical urban wetland in China: Association with occurrence and carbon storage
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in a Chinese urban wetland and estimated how much carbon the plastic particles contribute to the ecosystem. While microplastic-carbon currently makes up less than 0.3% of total organic carbon in the wetland, projections suggest this could rise to over 4% by 2100 if plastic production trends continue. The study highlights that microplastics are not just pollutants but are also subtly altering the carbon balance of ecosystems.
Correcting microplastic pollution and risk assessment in Chinese watersheds
Researchers compiled over 2,400 samples from 165 studies to create a national dataset of microplastic pollution across Chinese watersheds and developed a novel risk assessment framework. The study found that microplastic concentrations varied enormously across seven orders of magnitude, that population density and precipitation were key drivers of contamination, and that half of sampling sites fell into dangerous or extremely dangerous ecological risk categories.
Multidimensional Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Mangrove Wetlands: Driving Mechanisms, Carbon Contribution, and Ecological Risk
Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics throughout mangrove wetlands in China, with the highest levels in areas used for fishing and fish farming. These plastic particles are building up in the sediment and water, creating pollution hotspots that pose moderate ecological risks to these important coastal ecosystems. This matters because mangroves help protect coastlines and support marine life that humans depend on for food, so plastic pollution in these areas could ultimately affect our food supply and coastal protection.
Non–Negligible Ecological Risks of Urban Wetlands Caused by Cd and Hg on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China
Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in the Huangshui National Wetland Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, finding that cadmium and mercury pose non-negligible ecological risks across the urban wetland's three zones.
Atmospheric microplastic input into wetlands: Spatiotemporal patterns, drivers, and unique ecological impacts
Researchers monitored atmospheric microplastic deposition across 11 cities along China's lower Yangtze River Basin over four seasons. They found an average deposition rate of 512 items per square meter per day, equivalent to an estimated 17.46 metric tons of plastic annually entering the surveyed wetlands. Vehicle density and the textile industry were identified as primary drivers, and experiments showed that deposited microplastics altered moss bacterial communities, suggesting ecological impacts on wetland ecosystems.
Spatial–Temporal and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Surface Water of the Qinhuai River during Different Rainfall Seasons in Nanjing City, China
Researchers conducted a spatial-temporal analysis of microplastic contamination and risk in a river system across multiple seasons and sites, finding that concentrations varied significantly with location and time of year. Urban and industrial zones showed the highest microplastic loads and associated ecological risk.
A framework for systematic microplastic ecological risk assessment at a national scale
This study developed a framework for assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution across China by analyzing data from 128 studies and over 3,400 sites. The research found that microplastic contamination is widespread in Chinese soil, water, and sediments, with some areas reaching concerning levels. This kind of large-scale risk assessment is important for understanding how widespread microplastic pollution may affect ecosystems and, ultimately, human health through contaminated food and water.
Urban natural wetland as a sink for microplastics: A case from Lalu Wetland in Tibet, China
Microplastics were detected in water and sediment from Lalu Wetland in Tibet, a high-altitude urban natural wetland, establishing it as a sink for airborne and waterborne plastic particles. The study documents plastic contamination even in remote Tibetan ecosystems and highlights the role of wetlands in trapping microplastics from surrounding catchments.
Construction of a Near-Natural Estuarine Wetland Evaluation Index System Based on Analytical Hierarchy Process and Its Application
This paper develops an evaluation framework for assessing the effectiveness of artificial wetlands built to filter pollutants from rivers before they enter lakes. Such wetlands can also capture microplastics before they spread further into aquatic ecosystems.
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.