Jingjing Du, Xilin Wang, Tianying Tao, Xueting Zhang, Baodan Jin, Jianguo Zhao, Yangyang Lv, Qian Zhang, Keying Hu, Wenrui Qv, Yuanqian Xu, Xia Cao
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...
September 12, 2023: Science of the Total Environment