Sources, migration, accumulation and influence of microplastics in terrestrial plant communities

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany Vol. 192; p. 104635
• Main Authors: Yu, Zhe-fu, Song, Shuang, Xu, Xiao-lu, Ma, Qing, Lu, Yin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Community biomass; Community structure; Microplastics; Plant community; Sources; Community structure; Community biomass; Microplastics; Plant community; Sources
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2021.104635

•Microplastics can affect the biomass and community structure of plant communities.•The microplastics in the plant community mainly sourced from a variety of agricultural practices.•The migration and accumulation of microplastics in plant communities are affected by a variety of factors. Microplastics pollution have become an environmental issue of global concern due to the extensive use and unreasonable disposal of plastics. The effects of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems, especially on plant ecosystems, have attracted growing attention. However, the recent researches mainly focus on the individual plants, and study on the plant community-level is still very rare. This review introduces sources of microplastics in plant communities, elaborated the migration and accumulation of microplastics in plant communities, and highlights the effects of microplastics on plant communities, especially on community biomass and community structure. Future research works should further identify the effects of microplastics on different plant communities, especially in areas with higher microplastic pressure such as agricultural fields or around cities, in order to assess the ecological risks of microplastics in the environment more comprehensively.