How Plastic and Floods Harm Coastal Plants: New Study by University of Plymouth
New research from the University of Plymouth’s School of Biological and Marine Sciences and the International Marine Litter Research Unit shows that microplastics and saltwater flooding can significantly affect coastal plants. The study, published in Environmental Contamination, is among the first to explore these combined impacts.
Key Findings
The study found that microplastics hinder plant reproduction, while flooding causes tissue death. When both stressors are present, the effects are more severe, leading to altered growth and reduced photosynthetic efficiency. This impacts the plants’ ability to capture water, nutrients, and sunlight, which are crucial for ecosystem health.
Expert Insights
Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones, the lead author, stated, “This research highlights the potential for microplastics, composed of conventional and biodegradable plastic, to detrimentally affect plant functioning. Moreso, it indicates that the effect of microplastics can be magnified by other environmental factors such as rising sea levels and coastal flooding.”
About the Study
The research was part of the BIO-PLASTIC-RISK project, a £2.6 million initiative supported by the Natural Environment Research Council. It focused on buck’s horn plantain (Plantago coronopus), a plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but also found in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Plants were grown in soil with conventional or biodegradable plastics for 35 days, then flooded with seawater for 72 hours, and monitored for 24 more days.
Doubts Revealed
University of Plymouth -: The University of Plymouth is a school in the UK where people go to learn and do research. They study many things, including how the environment is changing.
microplastics -: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are smaller than a grain of rice. They come from things like plastic bottles and bags breaking down.
saltwater flooding -: Saltwater flooding happens when seawater covers the land, usually because of storms or rising sea levels. This can harm plants and animals that live on the coast.
BIO-PLASTIC-RISK project -: The BIO-PLASTIC-RISK project is a research effort to understand how plastic affects living things and the environment. Scientists study the risks and try to find solutions.
tissue death -: Tissue death means that parts of a plant or animal’s body stop working and die. This can happen because of damage or stress, like from pollution or flooding.
photosynthetic efficiency -: Photosynthetic efficiency is how well plants turn sunlight into energy. If it’s reduced, plants can’t grow as well or make enough food for themselves.
Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones -: Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones is a scientist who studies the environment. She works at the University of Plymouth and looks at how things like plastic affect nature.
rising sea levels -: Rising sea levels mean that the ocean is getting higher. This can happen because of climate change, which melts ice and makes the water expand.