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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Organic enrichment can increase the impact of microplastics on meiofaunal assemblages in tropical beach systems
ClearEffects of microplastics pollution on the abundance and composition of interstitial meiofauna
Researchers found that microplastic accumulation in beach sediments negatively affected the abundance and community composition of meiofauna at lower intertidal levels on urban Colombian beaches, with microplastics explaining 39% of community variation in the most heavily impacted zone.
Short-term microplastic effects on marine meiofauna abundance, diversity and community composition
Researchers examined short-term effects of microplastics on marine meiofauna, measuring changes in abundance, species diversity, and community composition after plastic addition, finding dose-dependent disruption to these ecologically important small invertebrates.
Microplastic effects on soil organic matter dynamics and bacterial communities under contrasting soil environments
Researchers compared microplastic effects on soil organic matter dynamics and bacterial communities across contrasting soil environments, finding that the type of microplastic polymer and soil conditions together determine whether microbial activity and carbon cycling are stimulated or suppressed.
Dissolved organic carbon and microplastics decrease the biodiversity effect on resource use efficiency of crustacean zooplankton
Researchers investigated how dissolved organic carbon and microplastics affect the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in crustacean zooplankton communities. The study found that both pollutants diminish the positive effects that species and functional diversity normally have on resource use efficiency, suggesting that environmental contamination can undermine ecosystem resilience.
Micro- and nanoplastics effects in a multiple stressed marine environment
Researchers examined how micro- and nanoplastics interact with other environmental stressors in marine settings, finding that realistic multi-stressor scenarios can amplify or modify plastic toxicity in ways single-exposure studies miss.
Microplastic-induced shifts in bioturbation and oxygen penetration depth in subtidal sediments
This study examined how microplastics affect meiofauna -- organisms smaller than 500 micrometers living between sediment grains -- and their role in biogeochemical cycling including bioturbation and oxygen penetration in subtidal sediments. Results showed microplastics shifted meiofaunal community structure, with cascading effects on sediment oxygen dynamics.
High macroplastic pollution in a subtropical urban lake affects macroinvertebrate community structure
Researchers examined the effects of high macroplastic pollution in a subtropical urban lake on macroinvertebrate communities, finding that plastic debris significantly altered benthic assemblages and reduced biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems that have received less ecological attention than marine environments.
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.
Do microplastics dramatically shape the homogeneity of protozoan colonization in marine environments?
Researchers exposed protozoan assemblages to a gradient of microplastic concentrations in marine environments to investigate whether MPs shape the homogeneity of protozoan colonization patterns. The results provide insights into how MP pollution alters microbial community structure and the energy transfer roles of protozoa across trophic levels in marine ecosystems.
Impacts of macro - and microplastic on macrozoobenthos abundance in intertidal zone
This study assessed how macro- and microplastics affect the abundance of bottom-dwelling invertebrates in an intertidal zone, finding that plastic contamination is linked to reduced invertebrate diversity. The results highlight ecological impacts of plastic pollution in coastal ecosystems that provide food resources for humans.
The influence of microplastics pollution on the feeding behavior of a prominent sandy beach amphipod, Orchestoidea tuberculata (Nicolet, 1849)
Microplastic pollution was found to reduce feeding activity and slow growth in a beach amphipod (small crustacean), even at environmentally relevant concentrations. This suggests microplastics can disrupt energy balance and population health in small invertebrates that play important roles in sandy beach ecosystems.
Ecology of mesozooplankton in a subtropical coastal lagoon: composition, spatial distribution and interactions with microplastic pollution
Researchers studied mesozooplankton ecology in a subtropical coastal lagoon, examining community composition, spatial distribution, and interactions with microplastic pollution to understand how plastic contamination affects zooplankton dynamics in coastal environments.
Long-term exposure of a free-living freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in microcosms
Researchers exposed a natural freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in long-term microcosm experiments, finding community-level effects that differ from single-species studies and highlighting the importance of realistic multi-polymer exposure scenarios.
The exposure to polyvinyl chloride microplastics and chrysene induces multiple changes in the structure and functionality of marine meiobenthic communities
Researchers found that combined exposure to PVC microplastics and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon chrysene caused multiple structural and functional changes in marine meiobenthic communities, with joint effects differing from single-contaminant exposures.
Plastic leachates promote marine protozoan growth
Researchers studied how chemicals leaching from ocean plastics affect the growth of a marine protozoan and its associated bacteria. They found that plastic leachates dramatically increased dissolved organic carbon in seawater, boosting protozoan growth by up to ten times compared to controls. The study suggests that plastic pollution may be altering the base of marine food webs by providing an unnatural carbon source that shifts microbial community dynamics.
Microplastics negatively affect soil fauna but stimulate microbial activity: insights from a field-based microplastic addition experiment
A meta-analysis of microplastic studies found that microplastics negatively affect soil fauna abundance and diversity while stimulating soil microbial activity, based on data from multiple laboratory experiments. The opposing effects on fauna and microbes suggest that microplastics can shift soil community structure in ways that alter ecosystem functions like decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Meta-analysis reveals differential impacts of microplastics on soil biota
Soil microplastic contamination ranged from 0.34 to over 410,000 items/kg across sites, and their presence significantly increased mortality rates and decreased individual numbers, diversity, and reproduction of soil organisms, though biomass was unaffected due to opposing effects on different organism groups.
Global meta-analysis reveals differential effects of microplastics on soil ecosystem
This meta-analysis pooled data from 114 studies to understand how microplastics affect soil ecosystems at different concentrations. Higher microplastic levels reduced soil organic matter and microbial activity, suggesting that increasing plastic pollution could degrade the soil that supports our food supply.
Plankton assemblages from microplastics of tropical coastal environments reveal high diversity and evidence of toxic species
Microplastic particles collected from beach sediments in the Johor and Singapore Straits harbored highly diverse plankton communities — including several documented harmful algal bloom species — detectable only through DNA sequencing rather than microscopy alone. This demonstrates that microplastics serve as rafts transporting potentially toxic microorganisms across coastal ecosystems, adding a biological dimension to the pollution risk they pose.
Soil microbial community parameters affected by microplastics and other plastic residues
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis examining how plastic residues, including microplastics, affect soil microbial communities. The study found that plastics accelerated soil organic carbon loss and reduced microbial biomass overall, with effects varying by polymer type: polyethylene decreased microbial richness while polypropylene increased it, and the impact on microbial activity followed a dose-response pattern with a turning point around 40 grams per kilogram of soil.
In Situ Effects of a Microplastic Mixture on the Community Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in a Freshwater Pond
Researchers conducted an in situ mesocosm experiment adding a realistic microplastic mixture to freshwater pond sediments and monitored benthic macroinvertebrate communities over time, finding that MP exposure shifted community composition and reduced taxonomic richness at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Combined effects of microplastics contamination and marine heatwaves on carbon cycling in coastal marine sediments
Researchers conducted a 21-day manipulative experiment to test the combined effects of microplastic contamination and simulated marine heatwave conditions on carbon cycling in temperate coastal marine sediments, measuring changes in organic matter quantity, composition, and carbon degradation rates. They found that the simultaneous occurrence of microplastics and elevated temperatures produced distinct effects on sedimentary organic matter processing compared to either stressor alone.
Combined influence of the nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure on microbial community in seawater environment
Researchers studied the individual and combined effects of nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on microbial communities in seawater. They found that the combination of these two pollutants altered microbial diversity and community structure differently than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and chemical pollutants in the ocean may have complex and unpredictable effects on marine microbial ecosystems.
Is soft-sediments ecosystem service delivery compromised due to microplastic pollution?
This review examines how microplastic pollution may compromise ecosystem service delivery in soft-sediment habitats, focusing on potential impacts on microphytobenthic microbial communities that underpin nutrient cycling, sediment stabilization, and food web productivity. The authors argue that because soft sediments act as microplastic sinks, their resident microbial communities face disproportionate exposure, and call for holistic research linking microplastic effects on microbial diversity and biogeochemical function to broader ecosystem service outcomes.