Author(s)

Yingyue Jiang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ International Curriculum Center, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, No. 37 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100080, China

Corresponding Author

Yingyue Jiang

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of microplastics (MPs) on Skeletonema costatum growth by monitoring algal responses to polystyrene MPs (0.1 μm diameter) at concentrations of 0.10 mg/L and 10.00 mg/L. Results demonstrate that the addition of MPs plays an important role in algal growth, chlorophyll and oxidative stress. After three days of MP exposure, both low and high concentration exposures significantly increased cell growth and chlorophyll content, with pronounced effects observed under the low concentration exposure. Additionally, MP exposure markedly elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, indicating a physiological stress response in algal cells. Collectively, this work establishes critical data for assessing the impacts of MPs on marine phytoplankton in marine ecosystems.

KEYWORDS

Microplastics, Skeletonema Costatum, Superoxide Dismutase, Dose-Dependent Effects, Marine Phytoplankton

CITE THIS PAPER

Yingyue Jiang, The Impact of Microplastics on the Growth of Skeletonema Costatum. Environment, Resource and Ecology Journal (2025) Vol. 9: 1-6. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/erej.2025.090201.

REFERENCES

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[2] Lang, X., Ni, J., & He, Z. (2022). Effects of polystyrene microplastic on the growth and volatile halocarbons release of microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Marine pollution bulletin, 174, 113197. 
[3] Mao, Y., Ai, H., Chen, Y., Zhang, Z., Zeng, P., Kang, L., Li, W., Gu, W., He, Q., & Li, H. (2018). Phytoplankton response to polystyrene microplastics: Perspective from an entire growth period. Chemosphere, 208, 59–68. 
[4] Wang, X., et al. (2022). Effects of microplastics on the growth of two diatom species and their dimethyl sulfide production. Journal of Ocean University of China.
[5] Wu, D., et al. (2021). Size-dependent toxic effects of polystyrene microplastic exposure on Microcystis aeruginosa. Science of the Total Environment, 761, 143265.
[6] Yu, J., et al. (2020). Effects of microplastics exposure on ingestion, fecundity, development, and dimethylsulfide production in Tigriopus japonicus. Environmental Pollution, 267, 115429.
[7] Zhao, T., et al. (2019). Interaction between micro-sized PVC and Karenia mikimotoi: Inhibitory effects on growth and photosynthesis. Environmental Pollution, 247, 883–889.

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