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Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling

Author

Listed:
  • Meredith E. Seeley

    (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 1346)

  • Bongkeun Song

    (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 1346)

  • Renia Passie

    (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 1346)

  • Robert C. Hale

    (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 1346)

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous in estuarine, coastal, and deep sea sediments. The impacts of microplastics on sedimentary microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles, however, have not been well reported. To evaluate if microplastics influence the composition and function of sedimentary microbial communities, we conducted a microcosm experiment using salt marsh sediment amended with polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane foam (PUF) or polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics. We report that the presence of microplastics alters sediment microbial community composition and nitrogen cycling processes. Compared to control sediments without microplastic, PUF- and PLA-amended sediments promote nitrification and denitrification, while PVC amendment inhibits both processes. These results indicate that nitrogen cycling processes in sediments can be significantly affected by different microplastics, which may serve as organic carbon substrates for microbial communities. Considering this evidence and increasing microplastic pollution, the impact of plastics on global ecosystems and biogeochemical cycling merits critical investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Meredith E. Seeley & Bongkeun Song & Renia Passie & Robert C. Hale, 2020. "Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16235-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16235-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoxuan Su & Leyang Yang & Kai Yang & Yijia Tang & Teng Wen & Yingmu Wang & Matthias C. Rillig & Lena Rohe & Junliang Pan & Hu Li & Yong-guan Zhu, 2022. "Estuarine plastisphere as an overlooked source of N2O production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Raquel Pérez-Reverón & Sergio J. Álvarez-Méndez & Rebecca Magdalena Kropp & Adolfo Perdomo-González & Javier Hernández-Borges & Francisco J. Díaz-Peña, 2022. "Microplastics in Agricultural Systems: Analytical Methodologies and Effects on Soil Quality and Crop Yield," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-29, August.
    3. Zelong Li & Jing Wang & Hao Yue & Miaomiao Du & Yuan Jin & Jingfeng Fan, 2023. "Marine toxin domoic acid alters nitrogen cycling in sediments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Andrew J Tanentzap & Samuel Cottingham & Jérémy Fonvielle & Isobel Riley & Lucy M Walker & Samuel G Woodman & Danai Kontou & Christian M Pichler & Erwin Reisner & Laurent Lebreton, 2021. "Microplastics and anthropogenic fibre concentrations in lakes reflect surrounding land use," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, September.

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