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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Rapid adaptive responses of rosette‐type macrophyte Vallisneria natans juveniles to varying water depths: The role of leaf trait plasticity
ClearLeaf morphology affects microplastic entrapment efficiency in freshwater macrophytes
Researchers found that leaf morphology significantly affects the ability of freshwater macrophytes (aquatic plants) to trap microplastics, with leaf shape and surface texture influencing particle capture efficiency. The findings suggest that aquatic vegetation plays an underappreciated role in microplastic retention and transport in freshwater ecosystems.
Unraveling the toxic mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic ecosystem: A case study on Vallisneria natans and Myriophyllum verticillatum
Researchers exposed two submerged aquatic plant species (Vallisneria natans and Myriophyllum verticillatum) to PVC, polystyrene, and polyethylene microplastics at three concentrations, finding that all three types significantly inhibited photosynthesis and growth and triggered oxidative stress, with effects varying by plastic type and plant species.
Toxicity mechanism of microplastics on the growth traits and metabolic pathways of Vallisneria natans under different light environments
Researchers examined how microplastics affect the aquatic plant Vallisneria natans under different light conditions and found that strong light significantly increased microplastic accumulation on leaves and roots. The combination of high light and microplastics caused the most severe disruption to photosynthesis, energy metabolism, and triggered elevated oxidative stress. The findings suggest that environmental conditions like light intensity can amplify the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on freshwater plants.
Responses of submerged plant Vallisneria natans growth and leaf biofilms to water contaminated with microplastics
Researchers exposed the submerged aquatic plant Vallisneria natans to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics and observed increased antioxidant enzyme activity and cellular organelle damage. The microplastics also altered the microbial community composition on leaf biofilms. The findings indicate that even moderate microplastic concentrations can disrupt plant defense mechanisms and shift the microbial ecology of aquatic environments.
[Response of Water-Vallisneria natans-Sediment System to Polyethylene Microplastics].
This study examined how polyethylene microplastics affect the water-Vallisneria natans-sediment system, finding that microplastic exposure alters aquatic plant physiology, sediment microbial activity, and nutrient cycling dynamics.
Shifting enzyme activity and microbial composition in sediment coregulate the structure of an aquatic plant community under polyethylene microplastic exposure
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect underwater plant communities and found that the impact varies significantly by species. Canopy-forming plants actually grew more under microplastic exposure, while rosette-forming species declined sharply, shifting the overall community structure. The study suggests that microplastics in freshwater sediments can reshape aquatic ecosystems by altering enzyme activity and microbial composition in ways that favor some plant species over others.
Macrophyte complexity influences habitat choices of juvenile fish
Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines how macrophyte structural complexity influences habitat selection by juvenile Mediterranean fish in littoral zones.
The effects of microplastics size and type on entrapment by freshwater macrophytes under vertical and lateral deposition
Researchers investigated how microplastic particle size and polymer type affect entrapment by freshwater macrophytes, finding that certain aquatic plant species preferentially intercepted specific particle sizes and that plant morphology determined capture efficiency across MPs of varying dimensions.
Effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on the growth of sediment-rooted macrophytes
Both nano- and microplastic particles negatively affected the growth of freshwater macrophytes in sediment-rooted experiments, with nanoplastics causing more pronounced effects at lower concentrations. The findings highlight that aquatic plants, which form the base of many freshwater food webs, are vulnerable to plastic particle pollution.
Influence of Water Depth on the Morphology Structure of Seagrass from the Southern of Peninsular Malaysia
This study is not about microplastics; it examines how water depth affects the leaf and root morphology of two seagrass species in Malaysia, finding that nutrient availability and proximity to the mainland influenced plant growth more than depth alone.
[Effects of Microplastics on the Growth and Physiology Characteristics of Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata].
Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (100 micrometer, 50 and 100 mg/L) on growth and physiological characteristics of two submerged aquatic plants, Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata, under single and mixed cultivation. The study found that microplastic exposure altered plant growth metrics and physiological parameters in a concentration- and polymer-type-dependent manner, informing understanding of microplastic ecological effects in aquatic vegetation.
The threat of micro/nanoplastic to aquatic plants: current knowledge, gaps, and future perspectives
This review summarizes what is known about how micro- and nanoplastics affect aquatic plants, including how plants absorb these particles through roots and leaves and transport them internally. Exposure can alter plant growth, photosynthesis, and interactions with other organisms, though effects vary widely depending on plastic type and concentration. The authors highlight major research gaps and call for more studies on real-world conditions rather than controlled lab settings.
[Effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the growth, physiology, and biochemical characteristics of Hydrilla verticillata].
Researchers exposed an aquatic plant to increasing concentrations of polystyrene microplastics and found that high doses stunted plant height, reduced chlorophyll, and impaired photosynthesis. Submerged aquatic plants form the base of freshwater food webs, and their disruption by microplastic pollution could cascade through aquatic ecosystems.
Aged rather than pristine polyvinyl chloride microplastic affect the development and structure of Vallisneria natans population
Researchers compared the effects of pristine versus UV-aged polyvinyl chloride microplastics on the aquatic plant Vallisneria natans. They found that while pristine microplastics had no detectable effect, aged microplastics reduced population growth rates by 26% and caused differential responses between parent plants and offspring. The study suggests that environmentally weathered microplastics pose a greater threat to aquatic plant populations than fresh plastic particles.
The importance of being petioled: leaf traits and resource-use strategies in Nuphar lutea
Researchers examined intraspecific trait variability (ITV) in leaf morphology and petiole characteristics of the floating-leaved macrophyte Nuphar lutea across a hyper-eutrophic shallow lake in central Italy, finding that water depth and sediment properties modulated resource-use strategies, with leaf area and biomass increasing with depth reflecting the construction costs of longer petioles.
Toxic effects of microplastics on aquatic plants
This review examines the toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater and aquatic plants, which are often the first organisms exposed in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics can reduce plant growth, disrupt photosynthesis, and affect nutrient uptake, with effects varying by polymer type and particle size.
Observing weak adaptation of duckweeds to their local microbiome depends on local pondwater
This paper is not primarily about microplastics — it examines whether duckweed plants show local adaptation to their native microbiome communities, finding only weak adaptation that also depends on local pond water chemistry.
Adsorption of different types of microplastic particles by macrophytes of Lake Baikal
Researchers experimentally investigated the adsorption of different microplastic particle types by submerged macrophyte species from Lake Baikal, finding that macrophytes can accumulate microplastics on their surfaces with implications for aquatic plant health and associated ecological communities in this unique ecosystem.
Ecotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics to submerged carnivorous Utricularia vulgaris plants in freshwater ecosystems
Researchers exposed the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia vulgaris to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations for seven days. The study found that microplastic exposure affected plant growth rate and caused morphological and physiological changes, providing early evidence that freshwater plants can be negatively impacted by microplastic pollution.
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.
Adsorption of different types of microplastic particles by macrophytes of Lake Baikal
Researchers experimentally investigated the adsorption of different microplastic particle types by submerged macrophyte species from Lake Baikal, finding that macrophytes can accumulate microplastics on their surfaces with implications for aquatic plant health and associated ecological communities in this unique ecosystem.
Aquatic vascular plants – A forgotten piece of nature in microplastic research
Aquatic vascular plants accumulate microplastics on their surfaces through electrostatic attraction, leaf morphology, and periphyton, and these retained particles can be easily ingested by herbivores. The authors argue that plants are an overlooked but important pathway by which microplastics enter freshwater food webs, and deserve more research attention.
Impact of microplastics on the foraging, photosynthesis and digestive systems of submerged carnivorous macrophytes under low and high nutrient concentrations
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia vulgaris, finding that high concentrations reduced growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content while increasing oxidative stress. The study also revealed that microplastics accumulated in the plant's traps and altered the associated microbial community, though higher nutrient levels helped compensate for some of the negative growth effects.
Multiple endpoints of polyethylene microplastics toxicity in vascular plants of freshwater ecosystems: A study involving Salvinia auriculata (Salviniaceae)
Researchers exposed the freshwater plant Salvinia auriculata to polyethylene microplastics for 28 days and observed reduced growth, thinner leaf tissue, and structural damage to cells. The study found that microplastics adhered to leaf and root surfaces, causing chlorophyll loss, cell membrane damage, and oxidative stress in the plants.