Polystyrene microplastics shown to enhance invasion of exotic submerged macrophytes

Submerged macrophyte invasions and microplastic pollution are major challenges in the context of global change and pose a serious threat to aquatic environments. The presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems alters plant function, sediment microbial community structure and ecosystem multifunctionality, but how microplastic pollution affects exotic submerged macrophyte invasions and the mechanisms by which environmental and biological factors play a role are not clear.