Ecosystem metabolism (e.g., gross primary production [GPP], respiration [R], and net ecosystem production) integrates the activity of aerobic organisms and is an indicator of environmental change. Microplastics (i.e., particles 1–5 mm) are widespread in freshwater ecosystems and are colonized by biofilms and other organisms. However, microplastics' effects on ecosystem‐level processes including metabolism or other gas fluxes i...

Sex-based differences in animal microbiota are increasingly recognized as of biological importance. While most animal biomass is found in aquatic ecosystems and many water-dwelling species are of high economic and ecological value, biological sex is rarely included as an explanatory variable in studies of the aquatic animal microbiota. In this opinion piece, we argue for greater consideration of host sex in studying the microb...