Study Reveals Tiny Plastic Particles' Impact on Terrestrial Food Webs

A new study published in Trends in Plant Science has revealed the ecological impact of tiny plastic particles on food webs in terrestrial ecosystems, shedding light on how plastic waste is exacerbating the current environmental crisis.

The study was conducted jointly by researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and the University of Southern Denmark.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) - plastic particles and fibres between one nanometre and five millimetres in size - pose an emerging threat to both marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The researchers found that MNPs accumulate in most of the plants studied and their associated above- and below-ground (AG-BG) biota. These particles can be transferred along AG-BG food webs, potentially disrupting ecosystem functionality.

The study also proposed key trophic and non-trophic transfer pathways of MNPs along AG-BG food webs, which could potentially impact biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality.

In addition, the researchers emphasised the urgent need for further studies on terrestrial ecosystems to comprehensively assess the ecological impact of MNPs and formulate strategies to mitigate their effects on plants and their interconnected food webs.

Edited by: YJ
Reviewed By: Maggie
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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