ABSTRACT: Conventional and biodegradable agricultural microplastics affect soil properties and microbial functions across a European pedoclimatic gradient
Project description:The contamination of marine ecosystems with microplastics, such as the polymer polyethylene, a commonly used component of single-use packaging, is of global concern. Although it has been suggested that biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid, may be used to replace some polyethylene packaging, little is known about their effects on marine organisms. Blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, have become a “model organism” for investigating the effects of microplastics in marine ecosystems. We show here that repeated exposure, over a period of 52 days in an outdoor mesocosm setting, of M. edulis to polyethylene microplastics reduced the number of byssal threads produced and the attachment strength (tenacity) by ~50%. Exposure to either type of microplastic altered the haemolymph proteome and, although a conserved response to microplastic exposure was observed, overall polyethylene resulted in more changes to protein abundances than polylactic acid. Many of the proteins affected are involved in vital biological processes, such as immune- and stress- regulation, metabolism and cellular and structural development. Our study highlights the utility of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to assess the health of key marine organisms and identifies the potential mechanisms by which microplastics, both conventional and biodegradable, could affect their ability to form and maintain reefs.
2019-01-02 | PXD011567 | Pride
Project description:Distinct influence of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on soil microorganisms
| PRJNA1166957 | ENA
Project description:Long-term exposure to conventional and biodegradable microplastics on soil microbiome
| PRJNA1222479 | ENA
Project description:Response of soil property and microbial community to biodegradable PBAT microplastics, conventional PE microplastics and straw residue
Project description:Cropping soils vary in extent of natural suppression of soil-borne plant diseases. However, it is unknown whether similar variation occurs across pastoral agricultural systems. We examined soil microbial community properties known to be associated with disease suppression across 50 pastoral fields varying in management intensity. The composition and abundance of the disease-suppressive community were assessed from both taxonomic and functional perspectives.
2018-03-30 | GSE112489 | GEO
Project description:Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) Microplastics Alter Chemical Properties and Microbial Communities in Agricultural Soil
Project description:Soil sampling across a European gradient
| PRJEB45259 | ENA
Project description:Nitrous oxide emissions and associated microbial, soil biochemical properties and crop growth and yield from a field trial of winter barley with the addition of conventional and biodegradable microplastics
