Sieve elements (SEs) represent one of the most specialized cell types in plants, yet several fundamental aspects of their structure, regulation, and physiological integration remain incompletely understood. Despite recent advances that refined our understanding of SE function, persistent questions and controversies remain concerning key aspects of SE biology, such as the disputed presence of a proteolytic machinery and a cytos...

Microplastic ingestion by lower trophic level organisms is well known, whereas information on microplastic ingestion, egestion and accumulation by top predators such as cetaceans is still lacking. This study investigates microplastics in intestinal samples from harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena ) found along the coastline of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) between 2014 and 2018. Out of 30 individuals found along the North Sea...

Plastic pollution has enormous impacts on freshwater and marine ecosystem health, and it is one of the topmost environmental concerns of the current geological period (i.e. the Anthropocene). Thus, the goal of our study was to provide baseline information and bridge the information gap on the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in African freshwater systems, using two tributaries of the Gulf of Guinea (Ogun and Osun Rivers) in N...

Caddisfly larvae occur in streams and rivers, and many caddisfly species build protective cases using material from their habitat such as sand grains. At the same time, microplastics (MPs) are regularly deposited in aquatic sediments and are incorporated into caddisfly ( Lepidostoma basale ) cases in the field. However, it is unknown what the effects of MP incorporation into cases might be on the health of the caddisfly larvae...