TY - JOUR

T1 - Zooming in the plastisphere: the ecological interface for phytoplankton–plastic interactions in aquatic ecosystems

AU - Nava, Veronica

AU - Dar, Jaffer Y.

AU - De Santis, Vanessa

AU - Fehlinger, Lena

AU - Pasqualini, Julia

AU - Adekolurejo, Oloyede A.

AU - Burri, Bryan

AU - Cabrerizo, Marco J.

AU - Chonova, Teofana

AU - Cour, Mathilde

AU - Dory, Flavia

AU - Drost, Annemieke M.

AU - Figler, Aida

AU - Gionchetta, Giulia

AU - Halabowski, Dariusz

AU - Harvey, Daniel R.

AU - Manzanares‐Vázquez, Víctor

AU - Misteli, Benjamin

AU - Mori‐Bazzano, Laureen

AU - Moser, Valentin

AU - Rotta, Federica

AU - Schmid‐Paech, Bianca

AU - Touchet, Camille M.

AU - Gostyńska, Julia

PY - 2025/4/1

Y1 - 2025/4/1

N2 - Phytoplankton is an essential resource in aquatic ecosystems, situated at the base of aquatic food webs. Plastic pollution can impact these organisms, potentially affecting the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The interaction between plastics and phytoplankton is multifaceted: while microplastics can exert toxic effects on phytoplankton, plastics can also act as a substrate for colonisation. By reviewing the existing literature, this study aims to address pivotal questions concerning the intricate interplay among plastics and phytoplankton/phytobenthos and analyse impacts on fundamental ecosystem processes (e.g. primary production, nutrient cycling). This investigation spans both marine and freshwater ecosystems, examining diverse organisational levels from subcellular processes to entire ecosystems. The diverse chemical composition of plastics, along with their variable properties and role in forming the “plastisphere”, underscores the complexity of their influences on aquatic environments. Morphological changes, alterations in metabolic processes, defence and stress responses, including homoaggregation and extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis, represent adaptive strategies employed by phytoplankton to cope with plastic‐induced stress. Plastics also serve as potential habitats for harmful algae and invasive species, thereby influencing biodiversity and environmental conditions. Processes affected by phytoplankton–plastic interaction can have cascading effects throughout the aquatic food web via altered bottom‐up and top‐down processes. This review emphasises that our understanding of how these multiple interactions compare in impact on natural processes is far from complete, and uncertainty persists regarding whether they drive significant alterations in ecological variables. A lack of comprehensive investigation poses a risk of overlooking fundamental aspects in addressing the environmental challenges associated with widespread plastic pollution.

AB - Phytoplankton is an essential resource in aquatic ecosystems, situated at the base of aquatic food webs. Plastic pollution can impact these organisms, potentially affecting the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The interaction between plastics and phytoplankton is multifaceted: while microplastics can exert toxic effects on phytoplankton, plastics can also act as a substrate for colonisation. By reviewing the existing literature, this study aims to address pivotal questions concerning the intricate interplay among plastics and phytoplankton/phytobenthos and analyse impacts on fundamental ecosystem processes (e.g. primary production, nutrient cycling). This investigation spans both marine and freshwater ecosystems, examining diverse organisational levels from subcellular processes to entire ecosystems. The diverse chemical composition of plastics, along with their variable properties and role in forming the “plastisphere”, underscores the complexity of their influences on aquatic environments. Morphological changes, alterations in metabolic processes, defence and stress responses, including homoaggregation and extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis, represent adaptive strategies employed by phytoplankton to cope with plastic‐induced stress. Plastics also serve as potential habitats for harmful algae and invasive species, thereby influencing biodiversity and environmental conditions. Processes affected by phytoplankton–plastic interaction can have cascading effects throughout the aquatic food web via altered bottom‐up and top‐down processes. This review emphasises that our understanding of how these multiple interactions compare in impact on natural processes is far from complete, and uncertainty persists regarding whether they drive significant alterations in ecological variables. A lack of comprehensive investigation poses a risk of overlooking fundamental aspects in addressing the environmental challenges associated with widespread plastic pollution.

KW - macroplastics

KW - autotrophs

KW - epiplastic organisms

KW - primary productivity

KW - harmful algae

KW - microalgae biodiversity

KW - aquatic food webs

KW - metabolic traits

KW - microplastics

U2 - 10.1111/brv.13164

DO - 10.1111/brv.13164

M3 - Review article

C2 - 39542439

VL - 100

SP - 834

EP - 854

JO - Biological Reviews

JF - Biological Reviews

SN - 1464-7931

IS - 2

ER -