Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China
Seagrass beds are significant sinks for microplastics. However, the degradation of seagrass beds poses significant challenges, and evidence regarding its impacts on microplastic sinks remains scarce. In this study, sediment cores were collected to investigate microplastic stock and composition, micr...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1593776/full |
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| author | Yuzhou Huang Yuzhou Huang Shuo Yu Shuo Yu Zhenming Zheng Zhenming Zheng Xi Xiao Zuhao Zhu Zuhao Zhu Liangchao Deng Liangchao Deng Huihua Wei Huihua Wei Jiani Liang Shuilan Chen Marianne Holmer |
| author_facet | Yuzhou Huang Yuzhou Huang Shuo Yu Shuo Yu Zhenming Zheng Zhenming Zheng Xi Xiao Zuhao Zhu Zuhao Zhu Liangchao Deng Liangchao Deng Huihua Wei Huihua Wei Jiani Liang Shuilan Chen Marianne Holmer |
| author_sort | Yuzhou Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Seagrass beds are significant sinks for microplastics. However, the degradation of seagrass beds poses significant challenges, and evidence regarding its impacts on microplastic sinks remains scarce. In this study, sediment cores were collected to investigate microplastic stock and composition, microplastic carbon, and organic carbon stock in Zostera japonica seagrass bed and adjacent degraded area in a lagoon Swan Lake, China. The microplastic stock in seagrass bed (84.5 ± 18.5 million particles ha-1) was found significantly higher than degraded area (51.8 ± 0.6 million particles ha-1), resulting in release of 38.7% of buried microplastics reactivated in water column. Similarly, 30.0% of the microplastic carbon stock and 66.1% of the total organic carbon stock were eroded due to seagrass degradation. The carbon stocks derived from microplastics were estimated at 0.19 ± 0.10 kg C ha-1 in the seagrass bed and 0.13 ± 0.11 kg C ha-1 in the degraded area, contributing minimally to the total organic carbon stock (0.0023% and 0.0026%, respectively). Notably, seagrass degradation within a single year may trigger rapid erosion of organic carbon and microplastics buried for over 20 years in Swan Lake. A linear relationship was observed between sediment microplastic carbon and total organic carbon contents (Organic carbon = 1990 + 35100 × Microplastic carbon, R² = 0.26, p < 0.001). Microplastics in the sediments were predominantly fiber (48.1%), black (40.7%), 250–500 µm (47.0%) microplastics in degraded area, while plate (26.7%), blue and transparent, each contributing 26.7% and 125–250 µm (38.2%) in seagrass bed. Seagrass bed degradation may not only reduce the stock of microplastics in the sediments but also alter their composition. This study initially quantified the contribution of microplastics to organic carbon stocks in seagrass bed sediments and underscored the urgent need for seagrass conservation to mitigate climate change and prevent the remobilization of historically buried microplastics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b9e617851f342feb230b9301516b8f0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b9e617851f342feb230b9301516b8f02025-08-20T02:38:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-05-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15937761593776Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, ChinaYuzhou Huang0Yuzhou Huang1Shuo Yu2Shuo Yu3Zhenming Zheng4Zhenming Zheng5Xi Xiao6Zuhao Zhu7Zuhao Zhu8Liangchao Deng9Liangchao Deng10Huihua Wei11Huihua Wei12Jiani Liang13Shuilan Chen14Marianne Holmer15Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaOcean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, ChinaCollege of Marine Science, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, ChinaCollege of Marine Science, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, ChinaDepartment of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkSeagrass beds are significant sinks for microplastics. However, the degradation of seagrass beds poses significant challenges, and evidence regarding its impacts on microplastic sinks remains scarce. In this study, sediment cores were collected to investigate microplastic stock and composition, microplastic carbon, and organic carbon stock in Zostera japonica seagrass bed and adjacent degraded area in a lagoon Swan Lake, China. The microplastic stock in seagrass bed (84.5 ± 18.5 million particles ha-1) was found significantly higher than degraded area (51.8 ± 0.6 million particles ha-1), resulting in release of 38.7% of buried microplastics reactivated in water column. Similarly, 30.0% of the microplastic carbon stock and 66.1% of the total organic carbon stock were eroded due to seagrass degradation. The carbon stocks derived from microplastics were estimated at 0.19 ± 0.10 kg C ha-1 in the seagrass bed and 0.13 ± 0.11 kg C ha-1 in the degraded area, contributing minimally to the total organic carbon stock (0.0023% and 0.0026%, respectively). Notably, seagrass degradation within a single year may trigger rapid erosion of organic carbon and microplastics buried for over 20 years in Swan Lake. A linear relationship was observed between sediment microplastic carbon and total organic carbon contents (Organic carbon = 1990 + 35100 × Microplastic carbon, R² = 0.26, p < 0.001). Microplastics in the sediments were predominantly fiber (48.1%), black (40.7%), 250–500 µm (47.0%) microplastics in degraded area, while plate (26.7%), blue and transparent, each contributing 26.7% and 125–250 µm (38.2%) in seagrass bed. Seagrass bed degradation may not only reduce the stock of microplastics in the sediments but also alter their composition. This study initially quantified the contribution of microplastics to organic carbon stocks in seagrass bed sediments and underscored the urgent need for seagrass conservation to mitigate climate change and prevent the remobilization of historically buried microplastics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1593776/fullmicroplasticsseagrasscarbonsedimentdegradation |
| spellingShingle | Yuzhou Huang Yuzhou Huang Shuo Yu Shuo Yu Zhenming Zheng Zhenming Zheng Xi Xiao Zuhao Zhu Zuhao Zhu Liangchao Deng Liangchao Deng Huihua Wei Huihua Wei Jiani Liang Shuilan Chen Marianne Holmer Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China Frontiers in Marine Science microplastics seagrass carbon sediment degradation |
| title | Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China |
| title_full | Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China |
| title_fullStr | Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China |
| title_short | Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China |
| title_sort | dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation a case study from swan lake china |
| topic | microplastics seagrass carbon sediment degradation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1593776/full |
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