Polystyrene size-dependent impacts on microbial decomposers and nutrient cycling in streams

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-12, Vol.905, p.167032, Article 167032
• Main Authors: Du, Jingjing, Wang, Xilin, Tao, Tianying, Zhang, Xueting, Jin, Baodan, Zhao, Jianguo, Lv, Yangyang, Zhang, Qian, Hu, Keying, Qv, Wenrui, Xu, Yuanqian, Cao, Xia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fungal community; Microbial biomass; Nanoplastic; Nutrient regeneration
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167032

The particle size of plastic is one of the most important factors influencing its ecotoxicity, but we are unclear about the effect of polystyrene (PS) particle size on microbial decomposers and consequent nutrient cycling in streams. Here, using microcosm experiments, we assessed how three PS sizes (50 nm, 1 μm, and 20 μm) influenced the process and consequences of leaf litter decomposition. Under acute exposure to 1 μm and 20 μm PS, fungal biomass significantly decreased, but microbial biomass significantly increased, indicating compensations may work between fungi and other microbial decomposers. After chronic exposure to 50 nm and 1 μm PS, the leaf decomposition rate decreased by 19.27 % and 15.22 %, respectively, due to the reduced microbial enzyme activity, fungal diversity, and dominance of Anguillospora. As a result, the regeneration of nutrients, especially phosphorus, was significantly depressed, which might influence the primary productivity of streams. Therefore, our results suggest that nanoscale PS has a greater impact on microbial activity, thus affecting their functioning in leaf litter decomposition and consequent nutrient cycling. The findings provide a data support for the risk assessment of plastic pollution in freshwater systems. [Display omitted] •Impacts of PS on leaf decomposition were dependent on particle size.•Acute exposure to micro-PS led to compensations between fungi and other microbes.•Nano-PS reduced decomposition rate, enzyme activity, and fungal diversity.•The generation of nutrients especially phosphorus was inhibited by nano-PS.