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

Abstract

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.