Effects of microplastics on sedimentary greenhouse gas emissions and underlying microbiome-mediated mechanisms: A comparison of sediments from distinct altitudes

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems that can profoundly affect carbon and nitrogen cycling. However, the impact mechanisms of MPs on sedimentary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at distinct altitudes remain poorly elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polylactic acid (PLA) on sedimentary CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions at distinct altitudes of the Yellow River. PVC increased the relative abundance of denitrifiers (e.g., Xanthobacteriaceae, Rhodocyclaceae) to promote N₂O emissions, whereas PLA reduced the abundance of AOA gene and denitrifiers (e.g., Pseudomonadaceae, Sphingomonadaceae), impeding N₂O emissions. Both PVC and PLA stimulated the growth of microbes (Saprospiraceae, Aquabacterium, and Desulfuromonadia) associated with complex organics degradation, leading to increased CO₂ emissions. Notably, the concurrent inhibition of PLA on mcrA and pmoA genes led to its minimal impact on CH₄ emissions. High-altitude MQ sediments, characterized by abundant substrate and a higher abundance of functional genes (AOA, AOB, nirK, mcrA), demonstrated higher GHG emissions. Conversely, lower microbial diversity rendered the low-altitude LJ microbial community more susceptible to PVC, leading to a more significant promotion on GHG emissions. This study unequivocally confirms that MPs exacerbate GHG emissions via microbiome-mediated mechanisms, providing a robust theoretical foundation for microplastic control to mitigate global warming.

Keywords: Altitude; Greenhouse gas emissions; Microbial community; Microplastics; Sediments.