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The Effect of Polystyrene (Ps) Microplastic Exposure with Different Doses on the Growth and Survival of Rotifera (Brachionus sp.)
Summary
This study tested how polystyrene microplastics at different doses affect the growth and survival of tiny aquatic organisms called rotifers. The results showed harmful effects at higher doses, demonstrating that microplastics can disrupt organisms at the base of the food chain, which can have ripple effects up to the seafood humans eat.
Aims: This study aimed to analyze the effect of exposure to polystyrene (PS) microplastics on the growth and survival of Rotifera (Brachionus sp.). Study Design: Quantitative Experimental. Place and Duration of Study: This study lasted for 20 days of Rotifera (Brachionus sp.) maintenance, starting from January 3-23, 2025 at the Fish Production and Reproduction Laboratory, checking the daily density of rotifera at the Fish Health Laboratory, and checking the abundance of microplastics at the Environmental Laboratory and Hydrobiology Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mataram, Indonesia. Methodology: This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments and three replications, so that 12 experimental units were obtained. The doses of microplastics used in this study were P1 (0 mg/L), P2 (0.5 mg/L), P3 (1 mg/L), and P4 (1.5 mg/L). At the same time, rotifers have an initial density of 10 ind/ml. Results: The results of this study show that exposure to polystyrene microplastics has a significant effect on rotifera (Brachionus sp.), especially on the parameters of density, growth length, and accumulation of microplastics in the body. The higher the dose given, especially at a concentration of 1.5 mg/L, the greater the negative impact it causes. Although there was no real difference in the specific growth rate (SGR), a downward trend was observed. Since the water quality is in the optimal range, it can be concluded that the biological effects of microplastic exposure are not due to environmental factors. These findings indicate that microplastics are environmental stressors that can potentially interfere with the survival of microscopic organisms in waters. Conclusion: Based on the study's results, it can be concluded that exposure to polystyrene microplastics significantly influences the growth rate of rotiferas. The higher the concentration of microplastics given, the lower the daily specific growth rate of the rotifera. This suggests that microplastics inhibit the reproductive process and development of rotiferas, presumably due to physiological stress and disturbances in the digestive system due to foreign particles. The survival of rotifers decreases as the dose of microplastics increases.