Microplastic Transformation and Toxicity Effects on Daphnia magna

Chronic and Acute Water-Soluble Microplastics Uptake and Effects on Growth and Reproduction of Daphnia magna

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Researchers found that two water-soluble microplastics — polyvinyl alcohol and polymethacrylic acid — harm the water flea Daphnia magna, reducing lifespan, reproduction, and causing physical deformities, raising concerns about these less-studied plastic types that dissolve in water rather than forming visible particles.

Toxicity Effects of Microplastics and Tire Particles on Daphnia magna

Are Daphnia similis Playing a Significant Role in Microplastic Biofragmentation?

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Researchers exposing the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia similis to polystyrene microspheres found that the organisms reduced particle size by nearly 33% over six days through biofragmentation, demonstrating that zooplankton ingestion is an underappreciated pathway for breaking down microplastics into smaller particles.

Microplastic encapsulation capacity of a cladoceran zooplankton Daphnia magna

Combined effect of polyethylene microplastics and Microcystis aeruginosa spent medium on Daphnia magna

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Researchers combined polyethylene microplastics with metabolites from the harmful cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in Daphnia magna exposures, finding that the combination increased microplastic ingestion sixfold and suppressed antioxidant responses, leading to higher mortality and lower reproduction during recovery compared to microplastic exposure alone.