Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions
The effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and comp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325000338 |
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| author | Ze Hui Kong Tong Liu Francis J. Burdon Amélie Truchy Martyn Futter Mirco Bundschuh Rachel Hurley Stefan Bertilsson Brendan G. Mckie |
| author_facet | Ze Hui Kong Tong Liu Francis J. Burdon Amélie Truchy Martyn Futter Mirco Bundschuh Rachel Hurley Stefan Bertilsson Brendan G. Mckie |
| author_sort | Ze Hui Kong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and compared effects of MP concentration (0, 1000, 50000 particles/kgsediment), shape (sphere, fragment, fibre), and polymer (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene) with those of a model invertebrate consumer (Chironomus riparius). We detected multiple effects of specific MP properties, especially associated with MP fragments and fibres, and the polymer polypropylene. These effects included increases in microbial abundance, consumer biomass and ecosystem respiration, as well as decreases in microbial enzyme activity and water chlorophyll-a. MP presence was also associated with increased relative abundance of microbial taxa reported to degrade plastics. However, consumer presence mostly had stronger effects (effect sizes ranging from ± 11 −313 %) than MP exposure (effect sizes ranging from ± 1–89 %) on microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Furthermore, several MP effects were only detected when chironomid consumers were absent. Overall, our findings suggest that MP effects on microbes and ecosystem functions are often relatively small and variable, depending on particle properties and consumer presence. Nevertheless, the number of MP effects detected highlights the need for further investigations of interactions between MPs and other environmental drivers, to more thoroughly assess the risks of MP pollution for freshwater ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd90a8d1708b46dba192b21efdefa9ff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd90a8d1708b46dba192b21efdefa9ff2025-01-23T05:26:09ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-01-01289117697Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functionsZe Hui Kong0Tong Liu1Francis J. Burdon2Amélie Truchy3Martyn Futter4Mirco Bundschuh5Rachel Hurley6Stefan Bertilsson7Brendan G. Mckie8Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Corresponding author.Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Te Aka Mātuatua ‑ School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; UR RiverLy, Centre Lyon‑Grenoble Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), Lyon, FranceDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SwedeniES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Fortstrasse 7, 76829 Landau, GermanyNorwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), NorwayDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SwedenThe effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and compared effects of MP concentration (0, 1000, 50000 particles/kgsediment), shape (sphere, fragment, fibre), and polymer (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene) with those of a model invertebrate consumer (Chironomus riparius). We detected multiple effects of specific MP properties, especially associated with MP fragments and fibres, and the polymer polypropylene. These effects included increases in microbial abundance, consumer biomass and ecosystem respiration, as well as decreases in microbial enzyme activity and water chlorophyll-a. MP presence was also associated with increased relative abundance of microbial taxa reported to degrade plastics. However, consumer presence mostly had stronger effects (effect sizes ranging from ± 11 −313 %) than MP exposure (effect sizes ranging from ± 1–89 %) on microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Furthermore, several MP effects were only detected when chironomid consumers were absent. Overall, our findings suggest that MP effects on microbes and ecosystem functions are often relatively small and variable, depending on particle properties and consumer presence. Nevertheless, the number of MP effects detected highlights the need for further investigations of interactions between MPs and other environmental drivers, to more thoroughly assess the risks of MP pollution for freshwater ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325000338Microplastic concentrationChironomid larvaeMicrobial community |
| spellingShingle | Ze Hui Kong Tong Liu Francis J. Burdon Amélie Truchy Martyn Futter Mirco Bundschuh Rachel Hurley Stefan Bertilsson Brendan G. Mckie Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Microplastic concentration Chironomid larvae Microbial community |
| title | Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| title_full | Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| title_short | Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| title_sort | microplastics in freshwaters comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| topic | Microplastic concentration Chironomid larvae Microbial community |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325000338 |
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