We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Effect of different size microplastic particles on the construction of algal-bacterial biofilms and microbial communities
ClearEffects of environmental microplastic exposure on Chlorella sp. biofilm characteristics and its interaction with nitric oxide signaling
Researchers examined how environmental microplastic exposure affects the formation of algae biofilms and their interaction with nitric oxide signaling. They found that microplastics disrupted biofilm development and altered the way algae cells communicate through chemical signals. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could impair the natural ability of algae to form protective communities used in wastewater treatment applications.
Size dependent effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on the nitrogen cycle of microbial flocs
Researchers found that nano- and microplastics reduce the nitrogen cycling capacity of microbial flocs used in aquaculture, with smaller nanoplastics causing greater disruption than larger microplastics in a size-dependent toxicity pattern.
Bacterial community are more susceptible to nanoplastics than algae community in aquatic ecosystems dominated by submerged macrophytes
Researchers conducted a mesocosm experiment to test how nanoplastics affect bacterial and algal communities in aquatic ecosystems with submerged plants. They found that bacterial communities were significantly more sensitive to nanoplastic exposure than algal communities, with notable shifts in bacterial composition and function. The study reveals that different groups of microorganisms in natural water environments respond very differently to nanoplastic contamination.
Different effects of nano- and microplastics on oxidative status and gut microbiota in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma
Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on oxidative stress and gut microbiota in marine medaka fish. They found that nanoplastics caused more severe oxidative damage and greater disruption to the gut microbial community than larger microplastic particles. The study suggests that particle size plays a critical role in determining the biological impact of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms.
Microplastic biofilm in fresh- and wastewater as a function of microparticle type and size class
Researchers compared the biofilm communities that form on microplastics of different types and sizes in both freshwater and wastewater, finding that biofilm composition was influenced by particle type, size, and water source. These findings advance understanding of the plastisphere — the microbial community unique to plastic surfaces — and its potential role in spreading microorganism-associated risks.
Surface-programmed microbiome assembly in phycosphere to microplastics contamination
Researchers studied how algal-bacterial communities assemble on microplastic surfaces and their potential role in degrading these pollutants. They found that microplastics in wastewater environments develop distinct microbial communities on their surfaces, with certain bacteria showing enhanced plastic-degrading enzyme activity when associated with algae. The study suggests that engineered algal-bacterial systems could offer a sustainable biological approach to microplastic remediation.
Size-specific mediation of the physiological responses and degradation ability of microalgae to sulfamerazine by microplastics
Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect the ability of marine microalgae to tolerate and break down the antibiotic sulfamerazine. They found that nano-sized plastics were more harmful than larger particles, reducing algal growth and impairing the organisms' ability to degrade the antibiotic. The study reveals that microplastic pollution could interfere with the natural biological breakdown of pharmaceutical contaminants in waterways.
Micro- and nanoplastics in granular sludge systems: mechanisms of disruption, retention, and microbial adaptation in wastewater treatment technologies
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt the biological systems used to treat wastewater, focusing on granular sludge technologies. Plastic particles damage the microbial communities that break down waste by causing oxidative stress and breaking apart the protective structures that hold bacteria together. This matters because if wastewater treatment becomes less effective due to plastic contamination, more pollutants including microplastics could pass through into waterways that supply drinking water.
Interplay of plastic pollution with algae and plants: hidden danger or a blessing?
Researchers tested the ability of three microalgae species to remove microplastics from water through bioadhesion, finding that all three species could adsorb particles onto their surfaces. Removal efficiency depended on particle size, surface charge, and algae cell morphology.
Biodegradability of microplastics reshapes surface biofilm microbial community structure and nitrogen cycling functions in aquatic environments
Researchers compared how biodegradable (PLA) and non-biodegradable (polyethylene and PVC) microplastics affect the microbial communities that form on their surfaces in aquatic environments, finding substantial differences in which bacteria colonized each plastic type and how they processed nitrogen. PLA supported communities rich in nitrogen-cycling bacteria, while PVC and polyethylene enriched different microbial groups associated with pollutant degradation. The study suggests that the push toward biodegradable plastics will change — not just reduce — the ecological effects of microplastics in rivers and lakes.
A critical review of interactions between microplastics, microalgae and aquatic ecosystem function
This review of microplastic-microalgae interactions found that microplastics form distinct epiplastic algal communities that differ from surrounding water communities, and that the interactions are bidirectional — MP properties affect algal physiology while algal surface coatings alter MP behavior and fate.
Responses of nitrogen removal under microplastics versus nanoplastics stress in SBR: Toxicity, microbial community and functional genes
Researchers compared the effects of microplastics versus nanoplastics on nitrogen removal in sequencing batch reactors used in wastewater treatment. The study found that microplastics had no significant effect on nitrogen removal, while high concentrations of nanoplastics impaired the process by disrupting microbial communities and functional gene expression. The results suggest that nanoplastics may pose a greater threat to biological wastewater treatment performance than microplastics.
Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: Hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type
Researchers studied interactions between microplastics and freshwater microalgae, finding that microplastics can physically attach to algal cells to form hetero-aggregates, altering both particle behavior and algal physiology.
Adaptation responses of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge to polystyrene microplastic particles in municipal wastewater
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics of varying sizes did not significantly impair organic, ammonia, or phosphorus removal in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge systems treating municipal wastewater, though the microplastics did alter microbial community composition.
Microplastics drive community dynamics of periphytic protozoan fauna in marine environments
Researchers exposed marine protozoan communities to varying concentrations of microplastics and tracked how the communities changed over time. They found that higher microplastic concentrations reduced species diversity and shifted community composition toward more pollution-tolerant species. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution can reshape the structure of microscopic marine communities, with potential cascading effects up the food web.
Microplastics of Broad Size Range Reduce Bacteriophage Activity in Aqueous Environments
Researchers found that microplastics of varying sizes (1 μm to 300 μm) reduced bacteriophage activity in aqueous environments by adsorbing phage particles, potentially disrupting microbial community regulation and increasing bacterial populations in contaminated waters.
Microplastics inhibit biofloc formation and alter microbial community composition and nitrogen transformation function in aquaculture
Microplastics were found to inhibit biofloc formation in aquaculture systems and alter microbial community composition and nitrogen transfer processes. The findings raise concerns about the growing use of intensive biofloc-based aquaculture in areas where microplastic contamination is prevalent.
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.
Microplastics-biofilm interactions in biofilm-based wastewater treatment processes: A review
This review examines how microplastics interact with the beneficial biofilms used in wastewater treatment systems. Researchers found that microplastics can both disrupt biofilm function and serve as surfaces where biofilms form, creating a complex relationship that affects treatment efficiency. The study highlights the need for wastewater facilities to account for microplastic contamination when designing and operating biofilm-based treatment processes.
Unraveling Microplastic-Biofilm Nexus in Aquaculture: Diversity and Functionality of Microbial Communities and Their Effect on Plastic Traits
Researchers incubated five common types of microplastics in an aquaculture pond for 128 days and found that biofilm formation varied significantly depending on the plastic type, with polypropylene and polyethylene supporting the richest microbial communities. PET microplastics attracted more plastic-degrading bacteria like Pseudomonas, while all plastic types enriched potentially pathogenic microorganisms. The findings highlight how different microplastics selectively shape microbial colonization in aquaculture environments, with implications for both environmental health and food safety.
Insight into effect of polyethylene microplastic on nitrogen removal in moving bed biofilm reactor: Focusing on microbial community and species interactions
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment bioreactors and found that low concentrations slightly improved the process, while higher concentrations disrupted it. The microplastics changed the microbial communities responsible for breaking down nitrogen in wastewater. This matters because less effective wastewater treatment means more nitrogen pollution in waterways, and microplastics entering treatment plants could reduce their ability to clean water effectively.
Wastewater treatment alters microbial colonization of microplastics
Analysis of microplastics and their biofilms across raw sewage, effluent, and sludge at two wastewater treatment plants found that >99% of influent MPs were retained in sludge, and that wastewater treatment substantially altered biofilm microbial composition, enriching bioflocculation-associated taxa.
Mechanisms underlying the detrimental impact of micro(nano)plastics on the stability of aerobic granular sludge: Interactions between micro(nano)plastics and extracellular polymeric substances
Researchers found that both micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations harmed the performance of aerobic granular sludge, a technology used for wastewater treatment, by reducing its ability to remove nitrogen. The plastic particles interacted with the sticky substances that hold the sludge granules together, weakening their structural integrity. The study reveals a specific mechanism by which plastic pollution can undermine wastewater treatment systems that communities rely on for clean water.
Comprehensive effects of microplastics on algae-laden surface water treatment by coagulation-ultrafiltration combined process: Algae cultivation, coagulation performance and membrane fouling development
Researchers studied how microplastics affect the treatment of algae-contaminated drinking water using a combined filtration process. They found that microplastics initially stimulated algae growth by 58% but then suppressed the algae's release of organic compounds, and the plastics actually helped form larger clumps during water treatment. While microplastics complicated the treatment process in some ways, understanding these interactions is important for ensuring drinking water plants can effectively remove both algae and microplastics.