Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments
Mangrove wetlands are hotspots of the global nitrogen (N) cycle and important sinks of microplastics (MPs) due to their ecotone location between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, the effects of MPs on N cycle processes in mangrove ecosystems are still poorly understood. Thus, the present s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024001326 |
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| author | Zetao Dai Ning Zhang Xiao Ma Feifei Wang Jiarui Peng Shengchang Yang Wenzhi Cao |
| author_facet | Zetao Dai Ning Zhang Xiao Ma Feifei Wang Jiarui Peng Shengchang Yang Wenzhi Cao |
| author_sort | Zetao Dai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mangrove wetlands are hotspots of the global nitrogen (N) cycle and important sinks of microplastics (MPs) due to their ecotone location between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, the effects of MPs on N cycle processes in mangrove ecosystems are still poorly understood. Thus, the present study assessed the impacts by adding MPs to mangrove sediments in a microcosm incubation experiment. The results showed that MPs increased dissolved organic carbon and nitrate but reduced ammonium contents in the sediments. MPs increased C:N stoichiometric and N:C-acquiring enzymatic ratios, indicating an intensified N limitation in mangrove sediments following exposure of MPs. MPs decreased microbial community diversity and shifted sediment microbial communities from r- to K-strategists, consistent with the intensified N limitation. In response, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) rates increased while nitrous oxide (N2O) production reduced suggesting more efficient N utilization in MPs treatments. The MPs with heteroatoms such as PLA- and PVC-MPs, increased DNRA rates by 67.5–78.7%, exhibiting a stronger impact than PE-MPs. The variation partitioning analysis revealed that the variances of DNRA rates and N2O production could be attributed to synergistic effects of physicochemical properties, nutrient limitation, and microbial community in mangrove sediments. Overall, this study provides pertinent insights into the impacts of MPs as a new carbon source on nutrient limitation and N turnover in mangrove ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:14:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ecdb2d9e2ddb49548aaf1c4d65364973 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:14:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecdb2d9e2ddb49548aaf1c4d653649732024-03-23T06:22:18ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202024-03-01185108546Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sedimentsZetao Dai0Ning Zhang1Xiao Ma2Feifei Wang3Jiarui Peng4Shengchang Yang5Wenzhi Cao6Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaCorresponding authors at: Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.; Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaCorresponding authors at: Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.; Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, ChinaMangrove wetlands are hotspots of the global nitrogen (N) cycle and important sinks of microplastics (MPs) due to their ecotone location between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, the effects of MPs on N cycle processes in mangrove ecosystems are still poorly understood. Thus, the present study assessed the impacts by adding MPs to mangrove sediments in a microcosm incubation experiment. The results showed that MPs increased dissolved organic carbon and nitrate but reduced ammonium contents in the sediments. MPs increased C:N stoichiometric and N:C-acquiring enzymatic ratios, indicating an intensified N limitation in mangrove sediments following exposure of MPs. MPs decreased microbial community diversity and shifted sediment microbial communities from r- to K-strategists, consistent with the intensified N limitation. In response, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) rates increased while nitrous oxide (N2O) production reduced suggesting more efficient N utilization in MPs treatments. The MPs with heteroatoms such as PLA- and PVC-MPs, increased DNRA rates by 67.5–78.7%, exhibiting a stronger impact than PE-MPs. The variation partitioning analysis revealed that the variances of DNRA rates and N2O production could be attributed to synergistic effects of physicochemical properties, nutrient limitation, and microbial community in mangrove sediments. Overall, this study provides pertinent insights into the impacts of MPs as a new carbon source on nutrient limitation and N turnover in mangrove ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024001326MicroplasticsMangrove sedimentNitrogen limitationDissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium |
| spellingShingle | Zetao Dai Ning Zhang Xiao Ma Feifei Wang Jiarui Peng Shengchang Yang Wenzhi Cao Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments Environment International Microplastics Mangrove sediment Nitrogen limitation Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium |
| title | Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments |
| title_full | Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments |
| title_short | Microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments |
| title_sort | microplastics strengthen nitrogen retention by intensifying nitrogen limitation in mangrove ecosystem sediments |
| topic | Microplastics Mangrove sediment Nitrogen limitation Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024001326 |
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