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Data Sheet 1_Biofouled microplastics exposure is associated with shifts in late-summer lipid dynamics of juvenile copepod Calanus hyperboreus.docx
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny Arctic creatures called copepods are a crucial link in the ocean food chain—they store huge fat reserves that feed fish and whales and help pull carbon out of the atmosphere into the deep sea. This study found that when these copepods ate microplastics coated with a natural biofilm (mimicking what they'd encounter in the real ocean) during their key summer fat-building season, they stored less fat and had altered fat composition compared to those exposed to clean plastic. This matters because if microplastic pollution disrupts fat storage in these foundational species, it could ripple up the food chain to the fish and seafood we eat
Microplastics (MP) are a relevant stressor in Arctic marine ecosystems. Their small size and ubiquity make them readily ingestible by zooplankton, placing copepods at the entry point of MP into high-latitude food webs. Calanus hyperboreus is a key Arctic species characterised by exceptionally large lipid reserves that fuel overwinter survival, support higher trophic levels as energy-rich prey, and facilitate carbon sequestration via the lipid pump. Successful lipid accumulation is therefore critical for individual fitness and ecosystem functioning, and MP-driven disruptions may have cascading effects on food-web dynamics and regional carbon sequestration. To address this, we exposed wild-caught C. hyperboreus copepodite stage V (CV) from southeastern Greenland to pristine and biofouled MP under feeding and food-deprived conditions during late summer (July–August 2024) aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough. Across experiments, control copepods exhibited seasonal shifts consistent with increasing lipid reserves and changes in fatty-acid composition over time. Responses to MP exposure were strongly context dependent. Pristine MP produced modest and variable changes in lipid content and fatty-acid profiles, whereas the most pronounced shifts were observed during late-summer exposure to biofouled MP under food-replete conditions, including reduced lipid mass and altered fatty-acid composition characterised by lower long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids and higher relative contributions of docosahexaenoic acid. Together, these patterns suggest that MP exposure during periods of active lipid accumulation may interfere with normal energy storage and fatty-acid allocation. These findings also identify a potentially crucial late-summer exposure context in which effects of MP on copepod lipid metabolism are most evident, rather than isolating biofouling as a sole causal factor. Overall, this study highlights the importance of seasonal physiological state and particle conditioning in shaping MP impacts on Arctic zooplankton, with potential implications for food-web dynamics and lipid-driven carbon export.
More Papers Like This
Biofouled microplastics exposure is associated with shifts in late-summer lipid dynamics of juvenile copepod Calanus hyperboreus
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny Arctic ocean creatures called copepods build up fat reserves each summer that help them survive winter and serve as a critical food source for fish and whales — but this study found that when these copepods are exposed to microplastics coated with a natural biofilm (mimicking real ocean conditions), they store less fat and their fat composition changes during this crucial feeding season. Since these copepods are a foundational link in the Arctic food chain — feeding fish that eventually end up on our plates — disruptions to their fat storage could ripple upward through the food web, though more research is needed to confirm how directly this affects fish and human food supplies.
Lipid mass and free fatty-acid composition of Calanus hyperboreus (CV) exposed to pristine and biofouled microplastics during shipboard incubation experiments (southeastern Greenland, summer 2024)
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Researchers measured lipid mass and fatty-acid composition in Arctic copepods exposed to pristine and biofouled nylon-6 microplastics during shipboard experiments off southeastern Greenland. The dataset provides insights into how microplastic exposure under varying food availability and starvation conditions affects the fat reserves and nutritional physiology of a key Arctic zooplankton species.
Effects of Nylon Microplastic on Feeding, Lipid Accumulation, and Moulting in a Coldwater Copepod
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Researchers exposed the coldwater copepod Calanus finmarchicus to nylon microplastic granules and fibers at environmentally relevant concentrations and measured effects on feeding, lipid accumulation, and development. They found that while microplastic ingestion did not cause acute toxicity, it reduced algal feeding rates and altered lipid storage patterns. The findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could impair the energy reserves these copepods need for overwintering and reproduction.
Sublethal effects of microplastic and oil co-exposure on biological rates and lipid profiles of keystone Arctic copepods
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of combined microplastic and oil exposure effects on three key Arctic copepod species. They found that co-exposure to polyethylene microplastics and oil caused sublethal effects on feeding rates, egg production, and lipid profiles that differed from oil-only exposure. The study suggests that the presence of microplastics may alter how Arctic zooplankton respond to oil pollution, which is relevant as shipping and industrial activity increase in polar regions.
Microplastic ingestion induces energy loss on the copepod Tigriopus koreanus
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This study found that tiny copepods (small marine crustaceans near the base of the food chain) lose significant energy when they ingest microplastics instead of real food. The microplastics provided no nutrition but took energy to process, reducing the animals' ability to grow and reproduce. Since copepods are a critical food source for fish, this energy loss could ripple up the food chain and ultimately affect seafood quality and availability for humans.
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