Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

SERS analysis of lubricant additives in the context of technical cleanliness in automotive production.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2026

Same author

Challenges and solutions in the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics down to 500 nm with automated Raman microspectroscopy: suitable filters, accuracy in the detection, identification, and quantification.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2026

Same author

µ-Raman and GC-MS to interrogate the heterogeneity of deuterium-label incorporation on the single cell vs. fatty acid isotopologue level.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2026

Same author

Online Coupling of Field-Flow Fractionation with Raman Microspectroscopy Enables the Advanced Study of Nanoplastics Directly in Food.

Analytical chemistry·2025

Same author

The potential of smoke-free products to reduce harm for smokers: what does the toxicological evidence say?

Internal and emergency medicine·2025

Same author

Raman Microspectroscopy to Trace the Incorporation of Deuterium from Labeled (Micro)Plastics into Microbial Cells.

Analytical chemistry·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Microplastic in Aquatic Ecosystems.

Natalia P Ivleva¹, Alexandra C Wiesheu¹, Reinhard Niessner¹

¹Institute of Hydrochemistry, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Germany.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)

|September 13, 2016

Summary

Microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic environments is a growing concern. This review analyzes MP detection methods, abundance, and organism uptake, offering strategies for risk assessment and mitigation.

Keywords:

aquatic environments microplastic polymers spectroscopic methods waterborne pollutants

More Related Videos

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Marine Biology

Background:

Plastic contamination, particularly microplastics (MP), poses a significant global ecological threat to marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Research is expanding on MP occurrence, chemical interactions, organism uptake, and adverse impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and characterize methods for microplastic analysis in aquatic environments.
To estimate microplastic abundance and address comparability issues in research findings.
To summarize existing literature on microplastic uptake by aquatic organisms.

Main Methods:

Review of current methodologies for microplastic sampling, processing, identification, and quantification.
Analysis of techniques for assessing microplastic abundance in various aquatic ecosystems.
Synthesis of studies investigating the uptake of microplastics by aquatic life.

Main Results:

Identified reliable techniques for microplastic analysis and areas needing methodological improvement.
Highlighted challenges in comparing microplastic abundance data across studies.
Documented the uptake of microplastics by a range of aquatic organisms.

Conclusions:

Identified critical knowledge gaps in microplastic research.
Proposed strategies for environmental risk assessment of microplastics.
Discussed potential approaches to reduce microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.