RT journal article
T1 Microplastics threaten seagrass carbon sinks through microbial changes
A1 Egea Tinoco, Luis Gonzalo
A1 Jiménez Ramos, Rocío
A1 Rodríguez-Arias, L.
A1 Infantes, E.
A2 Biología
K1 Blue carbon
K1 Detritus decomposition
K1 Microorganisms
K1 Nutrient enrichment
K1 Plastic pollution
K1 Seagrass
K1 Polyethylene
K1 Polypropylene
AB Seagrass beds are key blue carbon ecosystems but their capacity to sequester carbon is threatened by microplastic(MP) pollution in the marine environment. A 28-day mesocosm experiment examined the effect of microplasticsand nutrient enrichment (NE) on eelgrass (Zostera marina). We tested concentrations of 320 mg MPs per 100 gDW sediment− 1 and 70 mg of total nitrogen per 100 g DW sediment− 1 to evaluate impacts on plant performance,microbiome composition and detritus decomposition (after 60-days assay). MPs reduced leaf growth rate (− 39%), net production (− 57 %) and rhizome elongation (− 35 %), while NE shifted microbial assemblages,increasing phyllosphere and rhizosphere by 1.6-fold. MPs favored the growth of microbial taxa related with theconsumption of plant-derived polysaccharides and lignin compounds (1.7-fold higher), accelerating detritusdecomposition by 1.5-fold. Critically, MPs produced a notable decrease of bacteria involved in sulfur-cycle (0.45-fold lower under combined MPs + NE vs. NE alone), disrupting REDOX processes essential for seagrass survivalin reducing sediments. By reducing plant growth, altering microbial communities and accelerating organicmatter turnover, MPs compromise the carbon sequestration capacity of eelgrass meadows. These findings evidence the need for policies addressing plastic pollution to safeguard seagrass ecosystem services while promptfurther research on mechanisms of interaction between MPs and biota.
PB Elsevier
SN 1879-3363
YR 2025
FD 2025-08-25
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/38742
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/38742
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 09-nov-2026