Abstract
Planktonic organisms are at the base of marine food webs, with a dominant role in ecosystem services, including biogeochemical and nutrient cycling. Microplastics can affect plankton and, through trophic transfers, potentially the whole marine food chain. The impact on phytoplankton can alter primary production, inhibit grow, and reduce chlorophyll and thus photosynthesis. Zooplankton is a significant source of food for commercially important fish, and can ingest microplastics, generally by mistaking them for food. Most studies on zooplankton reported effects on feeding behavior, growth, development, reproduction, and lifespan. Methodologies to detect and express microplastics in plankton need to be standardized. Further research is particularly necessary into the impact of microplastics on diversity, ecology, and functions of planktonic communities.
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