Parikh Hirak S, Dave Gayatri, Tiwari Archana
Department of Earth and Environmental Systems, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA.
P D Patel Institute of Applied Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology, Anand, Gujarat, India.
Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Jan 30;197(2):206. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-13636-z.
In recent years, heightened concern has emerged regarding the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. This concern has prompted extensive scientific inquiry into microplastics' ecological and physiological implications, including threats to biodiversity. The robust adsorption capacity of microplastic surfaces facilitates their widespread distribution throughout aquatic ecosystems, acting also as carriers of organic pollutants. However, to comprehensively understand the broader implications of this pollution, a thorough examination of the origins, composition, and widespread distribution of microplastics within aquatic biotopes is imperative. Diatoms, unicellular photosynthetic organisms, play a pivotal role in aquatic ecosystems as primary producers, forming the base of the aquatic food web. Investigating the relationship between microplastics and diatoms, leveraging methodological advancements, holds promise in unraveling the intricate action mechanisms underlying their interactions. Such inquiry sheds light on the physiological responses elicited and provides crucial insights into the ecological dynamics within aquatic environments. This study explores the understanding of microplastic-diatom interactions, focusing on how microplastic types, sizes, and concentrations influence diatoms. Ultimately, the current study strongly advocates for transdisciplinary collaborations, such as partnerships between ecologists, materials scientists, and policymakers, as the complexity of microplastic pollution demands collective efforts to address this critical and alarming environmental issue.
近年来，人们对环境中微塑料的普遍存在，尤其是在水生生态系统中的存在，愈发关注。这种关注促使科学界对微塑料的生态和生理影响，包括对生物多样性的威胁，展开了广泛的研究。微塑料表面强大的吸附能力促进了它们在整个水生生态系统中的广泛分布，它们还充当有机污染物的载体。然而，为了全面了解这种污染的更广泛影响，必须对水生生物群落中微塑料的来源、组成和广泛分布进行彻底研究。硅藻是单细胞光合生物，作为初级生产者在水生生态系统中起着关键作用，构成了水生食物网的基础。利用方法学的进步来研究微塑料与硅藻之间的关系，有望揭示它们相互作用的复杂作用机制。这样的研究能够阐明引发的生理反应，并为水生环境中的生态动态提供关键见解。本研究探讨了对微塑料与硅藻相互作用的理解，重点关注微塑料的类型、大小和浓度如何影响硅藻。最终，本研究强烈倡导跨学科合作，例如生态学家、材料科学家和政策制定者之间的合作，因为微塑料污染的复杂性需要集体努力来解决这一关键且令人担忧的环境问题。
