Cell size-dependent species sensitivity to nanoparticles underlies changes in phytoplankton diversity and productivity

Nanoparticle pollution has been shown to affect various organisms. However, the effects of nanoparticles on species interactions, and the role of species traits, such as body size, in modulating these effects, are not well understood. We addressed this issue using competing freshwater phytoplankton species exposed to copper oxide nanoparticles. Increasing nanoparticle concentration resulted in decreased phytoplankton species growth rates and community productivity (both abundance and biomass). Importantly, we consistently found that nanoparticles had greater negative effects on species with smaller cell sizes, such that nanoparticle pollution weakened the competitive dominance of smaller species and promoted species diversity. Moreover, nanoparticles reduced the growth rate differences and competitive ability differences of competing species, while having little effect on species niche differences. Consequently, nanoparticle pollution reduced the selection effect on phytoplankton commun..., , , # Cell size-dependent species sensitivity to nanoparticles underlies changes in phytoplankton diversity and productivity

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.02v6wwq92](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.02v6wwq92)

## Description of the data and file structure

1. File list:
A) phytoplankton volume.csv
B) monoculture.csv
C) bi-species culture.csv
D) invasion.csv

2. Data-specific information for: phytoplankton volume.csv
**Number of variables:** 3
**Number of rows:** 150
**Variable List: **
replicate: number of individuals being measured
species: the abbreviations of the species in this study
volume: the cell volume of single individual, which unit is μm^3 per cell

3. Data-specific information for: monoculture.csv
**Number of variables:** 6
**Number of rows:** 898
**Variable List: **
species: the abbreviations of the species in this study
day: the time after the start of monocultural incubation
NPs: nanoparticle concentration, which unit is mg per L
rep: replicate number
cell_per_ml: the dens...