Beyond harm: synthesising meta-analytical and mechanistic evidence on animal responses to microplastics

Abstract

A central question in ecology and evolution is determining when environmental challenges translate into stress and biological harm. Human-derived pollutants are often assumed to be inherently damaging; however, their effects may depend strongly on ecological and physiological context. Microplastics exemplify this complexity, eliciting heterogeneous responses across taxa rather than uniform toxicity. Here, we synthesise evidence from 14 meta-analyses encompassing 9,101 effect sizes to identify the conditions under which microplastic exposure leads to damage, neutrality, compensation, or stimulation. These syntheses reveal clear negative effects alongside frequent neutral outcomes and occasional stimulatory responses. Microplastic effects vary with particle characteristics and exposure conditions and are strongly moderated by species-specific traits and life stage. We further argue that plasticity in the gut and in behavioural and physiological traits may buffer microplastic effects. Emerging evidence also indicates that biofilm colonisation alters the physicochemical and biological properties of microplastics, potentially modifying their ecological interactions and toxicity profiles. By reframing microplastics as context-dependent challenges rather than universally toxic agents, we provide a conceptual framework for understanding animal responses under realistic ecological conditions and identifying the biological and environmental contexts in which microplastic exposure is most likely to result in harm.