Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential
Mangroves with developed root systems at the land–sea junction act as sinks for microplastics (MPs). Heavy metals (HMs), persistent contaminants in coastal ecosystems, coexist with MPs globally. However, the complex effects of MP–HM pollution on mangrove ecosystems remain unclear. Herein, the combin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
|
| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132501245X |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849229412684267520 |
|---|---|
| author | Linglong Cao Huifeng Xie Ruikun Sun Lei He Zhenqing Dai Chengyong Li |
| author_facet | Linglong Cao Huifeng Xie Ruikun Sun Lei He Zhenqing Dai Chengyong Li |
| author_sort | Linglong Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mangroves with developed root systems at the land–sea junction act as sinks for microplastics (MPs). Heavy metals (HMs), persistent contaminants in coastal ecosystems, coexist with MPs globally. However, the complex effects of MP–HM pollution on mangrove ecosystems remain unclear. Herein, the combined effects of various MPs (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA)) and 10 HM (Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Co, Hg, As, and Ni) on the rhizosphere microecology of the mangrove plant Avicennia. marina (Forssk.) Vierh. (A. marina) were determined. The combined pollution caused by MPs–HMs changes the rhizosphere microbial community structure of A. marina and decreases species richness and diversity. The relative abundance of dominant bacteria (Firmicutes) in the PP–HM exposure (PPz) group increased by 58 %, and that of ε-Proteobacteria decreased by 49 %, compared with those in the heavy metal exposure (Z) group. PP and PA in the sediment enriched Bacillales (12 %) and Sphingomonales (3.6 %), respectively. The following were the distinct responses to the combined MP–HM pollution by the rhizosphere bacterial community: (1) sensitivity, which changed rapidly within 7 d of exposure, (2) specificity, differential enrichment of bacterial communities under MP vs HM stress, and (3) persistent alterations in functional bacteria following exposure. MPs in the sediment changed the bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere sediment by selective enrichment of the microbial taxa with specific plastic degradation functions. Thus, the long-term coexistence of MPs–HMs and microbes in mangrove wetlands may subtly change the biogeochemical cycling processes in coastal ecosystems. This study indicates the ecological effects of MPs–HMs in the rhizosphere environment, which provides theoretical support and scientific basis for the study of biogeochemical cycles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9070b64dddb4c48b60e79ad5d3e3533 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9070b64dddb4c48b60e79ad5d3e35332025-08-22T04:54:46ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130311890010.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118900Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potentialLinglong Cao0Huifeng Xie1Ruikun Sun2Lei He3Zhenqing Dai4Chengyong Li5School of Chemistry and Environment, Analyzing and Testing Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Environment, Analyzing and Testing Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Environment, Analyzing and Testing Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR China; Corresponding author.Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, PR ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Environment, Analyzing and Testing Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Environment, Analyzing and Testing Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR China; Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, PR China; Corresponding author at: School of Chemistry and Environment, Analyzing and Testing Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR China.Mangroves with developed root systems at the land–sea junction act as sinks for microplastics (MPs). Heavy metals (HMs), persistent contaminants in coastal ecosystems, coexist with MPs globally. However, the complex effects of MP–HM pollution on mangrove ecosystems remain unclear. Herein, the combined effects of various MPs (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA)) and 10 HM (Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Co, Hg, As, and Ni) on the rhizosphere microecology of the mangrove plant Avicennia. marina (Forssk.) Vierh. (A. marina) were determined. The combined pollution caused by MPs–HMs changes the rhizosphere microbial community structure of A. marina and decreases species richness and diversity. The relative abundance of dominant bacteria (Firmicutes) in the PP–HM exposure (PPz) group increased by 58 %, and that of ε-Proteobacteria decreased by 49 %, compared with those in the heavy metal exposure (Z) group. PP and PA in the sediment enriched Bacillales (12 %) and Sphingomonales (3.6 %), respectively. The following were the distinct responses to the combined MP–HM pollution by the rhizosphere bacterial community: (1) sensitivity, which changed rapidly within 7 d of exposure, (2) specificity, differential enrichment of bacterial communities under MP vs HM stress, and (3) persistent alterations in functional bacteria following exposure. MPs in the sediment changed the bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere sediment by selective enrichment of the microbial taxa with specific plastic degradation functions. Thus, the long-term coexistence of MPs–HMs and microbes in mangrove wetlands may subtly change the biogeochemical cycling processes in coastal ecosystems. This study indicates the ecological effects of MPs–HMs in the rhizosphere environment, which provides theoretical support and scientific basis for the study of biogeochemical cycles.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132501245XMicroplasticsHeavy metalsRhizosphere microenvironmentSedimentAvicennia marina |
| spellingShingle | Linglong Cao Huifeng Xie Ruikun Sun Lei He Zhenqing Dai Chengyong Li Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Microplastics Heavy metals Rhizosphere microenvironment Sediment Avicennia marina |
| title | Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential |
| title_full | Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential |
| title_short | Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential |
| title_sort | microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential |
| topic | Microplastics Heavy metals Rhizosphere microenvironment Sediment Avicennia marina |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132501245X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT linglongcao microplasticsandheavymetalsreshapemangroverhizospheremicrobiomesandcompromisecarbonfixationpotential AT huifengxie microplasticsandheavymetalsreshapemangroverhizospheremicrobiomesandcompromisecarbonfixationpotential AT ruikunsun microplasticsandheavymetalsreshapemangroverhizospheremicrobiomesandcompromisecarbonfixationpotential AT leihe microplasticsandheavymetalsreshapemangroverhizospheremicrobiomesandcompromisecarbonfixationpotential AT zhenqingdai microplasticsandheavymetalsreshapemangroverhizospheremicrobiomesandcompromisecarbonfixationpotential AT chengyongli microplasticsandheavymetalsreshapemangroverhizospheremicrobiomesandcompromisecarbonfixationpotential |