A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Zhu, Ruijie; Zhang, Zhaoying; Zhang, Naichi; Zhong, Huan; Zhou, Fanqi; Zhang, Xiao; Liu, Cun; Huang, Yingnan; Yuan, Yuan; Wang, Yujun; Li, Chengjun; Shi, Huahong; Rillig, Matthias C.; Dang, Fei; Ren, Hongqiang; Zhang, Yongguang; Xing, Baoshan
• 署名单位: Nanjing University; Nanjing University; Nanjing Normal University; Nanjing University; Nanjing University; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing Institute of Soil Science, CAS; Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS; Guangzhou University; Free University of Berlin; University of Massachusetts System; University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-13156
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2423957122
• 发表日期: 2025-03-18
• 关键词: chlorophyll fluorescence; MODEL; PRODUCTIVITY; metaanalysis; temperature; plants

摘要

Understanding how ecosystems respond to ubiquitous microplastic (MP) pollution is crucial for ensuring global food security. Here, we conduct a multiecosystem meta-analysis of 3,286 data points and reveal that MP exposure leads to a global reduction in photosynthesis of 7.05 to 12.12% in terrestrial plants, marine algae, and freshwater algae. These reductions align with those estimated by a constructed machine learning model using current MP pollution levels, showing that MP exposure reduces the chlorophyll content of photoautotrophs by 10.96 to 12.84%. Model estimates based on the identified MP-photosynthesis nexus indicate annual global losses of 4.11 to 13.52% (109.73 to 360.87 MT.y(-1)) for main crops and 0.31 to 7.24% (147.52 to 3415.11 MT C.y(-1)) for global aquatic net primary productivity induced by MPs. Under scenarios of efficient plastic mitigation, e.g., a similar to 13% global reduction in environmental MP levels, the MP-induced photosynthesis losses are estimated to decrease by similar to 30%, avoiding a global loss of 22.15 to 115.73 MT.y(-1) in main crop production and 0.32 to 7.39 MT.y(-1) in seafood production. These findings underscore the urgency of integrating plastic mitigation into global hunger and sustainability initiatives.