#ecosystemengineers — Public Fediverse posts

@mrillig

You may thank us ✌️🪱✌️

"Crucially, both field and laboratory data demonstrated a significant reduction in particle size in casts compared to soil (6.48% and 19.8%, respectively), supporting the potential earthworm effects on MP (microplastic) mechanical attrition. Polymer compositions in casts mirrored those in soils, exhibiting a nonselective and passive ingestion pathway. Beyond physical transport, the formation of field biogenic polymer aggregates facilitated chemical aging of MPs, as evidenced by elevated oxidation indices. This process was likely accelerated by the enrichment of plastic-degrading microbial taxa (e.g., Flavobacterium) within casts, which exhibited up to a 35.6-fold increase in relative abundance."

#Earthworms #Microplastics #EcosystemEngineers #SoilBiology #SoilEcology #EnvironmentalToxicology

@mrillig

You may thank us ✌️🪱✌️

"Crucially, both field and laboratory data demonstrated a significant reduction in particle size in casts compared to soil (6.48% and 19.8%, respectively), supporting the potential earthworm effects on MP (microplastic) mechanical attrition. Polymer compositions in casts mirrored those in soils, exhibiting a nonselective and passive ingestion pathway. Beyond physical transport, the formation of field biogenic polymer aggregates facilitated chemical aging of MPs, as evidenced by elevated oxidation indices. This process was likely accelerated by the enrichment of plastic-degrading microbial taxa (e.g., Flavobacterium) within casts, which exhibited up to a 35.6-fold increase in relative abundance."

#Earthworms #Microplastics #EcosystemEngineers #SoilBiology #SoilEcology #EnvironmentalToxicology

@mrillig

You may thank us ✌️🪱✌️

"Crucially, both field and laboratory data demonstrated a significant reduction in particle size in casts compared to soil (6.48% and 19.8%, respectively), supporting the potential earthworm effects on MP (microplastic) mechanical attrition. Polymer compositions in casts mirrored those in soils, exhibiting a nonselective and passive ingestion pathway. Beyond physical transport, the formation of field biogenic polymer aggregates facilitated chemical aging of MPs, as evidenced by elevated oxidation indices. This process was likely accelerated by the enrichment of plastic-degrading microbial taxa (e.g., Flavobacterium) within casts, which exhibited up to a 35.6-fold increase in relative abundance."

#Earthworms #Microplastics #EcosystemEngineers #SoilBiology #SoilEcology #EnvironmentalToxicology

@mrillig

You may thank us ✌️🪱✌️

"Crucially, both field and laboratory data demonstrated a significant reduction in particle size in casts compared to soil (6.48% and 19.8%, respectively), supporting the potential earthworm effects on MP (microplastic) mechanical attrition. Polymer compositions in casts mirrored those in soils, exhibiting a nonselective and passive ingestion pathway. Beyond physical transport, the formation of field biogenic polymer aggregates facilitated chemical aging of MPs, as evidenced by elevated oxidation indices. This process was likely accelerated by the enrichment of plastic-degrading microbial taxa (e.g., Flavobacterium) within casts, which exhibited up to a 35.6-fold increase in relative abundance."

#Earthworms #Microplastics #EcosystemEngineers #SoilBiology #SoilEcology #EnvironmentalToxicology

@mrillig

You may thank us ✌️🪱✌️

"Crucially, both field and laboratory data demonstrated a significant reduction in particle size in casts compared to soil (6.48% and 19.8%, respectively), supporting the potential earthworm effects on MP (microplastic) mechanical attrition. Polymer compositions in casts mirrored those in soils, exhibiting a nonselective and passive ingestion pathway. Beyond physical transport, the formation of field biogenic polymer aggregates facilitated chemical aging of MPs, as evidenced by elevated oxidation indices. This process was likely accelerated by the enrichment of plastic-degrading microbial taxa (e.g., Flavobacterium) within casts, which exhibited up to a 35.6-fold increase in relative abundance."

#Earthworms #Microplastics #EcosystemEngineers #SoilBiology #SoilEcology #EnvironmentalToxicology

How giant earthworms have transformed the Isle of Rum’s landscape https://theconversation.com/how-giant-earthworms-have-transformed-the-isle-of-rums-landscape-231638

"Renowned for a thriving and intricately studied population of around 900 #RedDeer, the #IsleOfRum, part of #Scotland’s Inner #Hebrides, is often considered an outdoor laboratory for scientific research. But the #earthworms on Rum are equally remarkable. These #invertebrates act as #EcosystemEngineers, actively shaping the landscape, often after humans have left their mark on this remote island."