The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics
Aquatic ecosystems are heavily affected by microplastics (MPs), and its impacts on aquatic life have received extensive attention. However, it is still unclear how biodegradable MPs influence the growth and competition of phytoplankton. In this study, the response of growth dynamics, alternation in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323011247 |
| _version_ | 1797653678231912448 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhipeng Zhen Ran Cai Muhammad Salam Jianmei Hu Bing Yang Mengzi Liu Hong Li Bingran Tang |
| author_facet | Zhipeng Zhen Ran Cai Muhammad Salam Jianmei Hu Bing Yang Mengzi Liu Hong Li Bingran Tang |
| author_sort | Zhipeng Zhen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aquatic ecosystems are heavily affected by microplastics (MPs), and its impacts on aquatic life have received extensive attention. However, it is still unclear how biodegradable MPs influence the growth and competition of phytoplankton. In this study, the response of growth dynamics, alternation in algal cell morphology and toxin-producing capability, and changes in the extracellular process of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) and Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus) were systematically studied in monoculture and co-culture conditions with and without the presence of polylactic acid MPs (PLA-MPs). The results indicated that although the loss of cell integrity was observed, PLA-MPs addition (50 mg/L) caused a 1.40- and 1.36-fold increase in cell densities of M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus in monoculture systems, respectively. This suggests the PLA-MPs more favored the growth of M. aeruginosa. This effect was manifested in co-culture conditions, because the degradation of PLA-MPs provided additional inorganic carbon in the experimental systems and benefited the growth of both M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus. Meanwhile, the synthesis of microcystins from the toxic M. aeruginosa was substantially reduced upon PLA-MPs exposure, which reduced the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa over S. obliquus. Thus; the cell density of M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus showed 1.15- and 1.88-folds increasing compared to that without PLA-MPs addition. This interaction between PLA-MPs and algae weakened the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa over S. obliquus, but their competitive outcomes remained unchanged. The results provided new insights into understanding the potential ecological risks of biodegradable plastics in aquatic ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:48:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c9b456b197b46df9cd70ffe474ba9c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:48:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c9b456b197b46df9cd70ffe474ba9c22023-10-22T04:47:59ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132023-11-01267115620The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplasticsZhipeng Zhen0Ran Cai1Muhammad Salam2Jianmei Hu3Bing Yang4Mengzi Liu5Hong Li6Bingran Tang7Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaBeijing Capital Eco-Environment Protection Group Co., Ltd., Beijing 100044, China; Capital Aihua <Tianjin> Municipal and Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300060, ChinaKey Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaBeijing Capital Eco-Environment Protection Group Co., Ltd., Beijing 100044, China; Capital Aihua <Tianjin> Municipal and Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300060, ChinaKey Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaKey Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaKey Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Correspondence to: Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400044, China.Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Correspondence to: Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400044, China.Aquatic ecosystems are heavily affected by microplastics (MPs), and its impacts on aquatic life have received extensive attention. However, it is still unclear how biodegradable MPs influence the growth and competition of phytoplankton. In this study, the response of growth dynamics, alternation in algal cell morphology and toxin-producing capability, and changes in the extracellular process of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) and Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus) were systematically studied in monoculture and co-culture conditions with and without the presence of polylactic acid MPs (PLA-MPs). The results indicated that although the loss of cell integrity was observed, PLA-MPs addition (50 mg/L) caused a 1.40- and 1.36-fold increase in cell densities of M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus in monoculture systems, respectively. This suggests the PLA-MPs more favored the growth of M. aeruginosa. This effect was manifested in co-culture conditions, because the degradation of PLA-MPs provided additional inorganic carbon in the experimental systems and benefited the growth of both M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus. Meanwhile, the synthesis of microcystins from the toxic M. aeruginosa was substantially reduced upon PLA-MPs exposure, which reduced the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa over S. obliquus. Thus; the cell density of M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus showed 1.15- and 1.88-folds increasing compared to that without PLA-MPs addition. This interaction between PLA-MPs and algae weakened the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa over S. obliquus, but their competitive outcomes remained unchanged. The results provided new insights into understanding the potential ecological risks of biodegradable plastics in aquatic ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323011247Biodegradable plasticsPolylactic acidMicrocystis aeruginosaScenedesmus obliquusCompetition |
| spellingShingle | Zhipeng Zhen Ran Cai Muhammad Salam Jianmei Hu Bing Yang Mengzi Liu Hong Li Bingran Tang The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Biodegradable plastics Polylactic acid Microcystis aeruginosa Scenedesmus obliquus Competition |
| title | The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics |
| title_full | The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics |
| title_fullStr | The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics |
| title_short | The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics |
| title_sort | competitive advantage of microcystis aeruginosa over scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics |
| topic | Biodegradable plastics Polylactic acid Microcystis aeruginosa Scenedesmus obliquus Competition |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323011247 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhipengzhen thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT rancai thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT muhammadsalam thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT jianmeihu thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT bingyang thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT mengziliu thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT hongli thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT bingrantang thecompetitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT zhipengzhen competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT rancai competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT muhammadsalam competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT jianmeihu competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT bingyang competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT mengziliu competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT hongli competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics AT bingrantang competitiveadvantageofmicrocystisaeruginosaoverscenedesmusobliquusweakenedbyexposuretopolylacticacidmicroplastics |