0
Clinical Trial ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 1 ? Systematic review or meta-analysis. Synthesizes findings across many studies. Strongest evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Reproductive & Development Sign in to save

The Effect of Polystyrene (Ps) Microplastic Exposure with Different Doses on the Growth and Survival of Rotifera (Brachionus sp.)

Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research 2025 Score: 58 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Lena Susianti, Bagus Dwi Hari Setyono, Sadikin Amir

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.

Polymers

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.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Uptake of polystyrene microplastics by marine rotifers under different experimental conditions

Researchers examined polystyrene microplastic uptake by marine rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis), finding ingestion positively correlated with microplastic concentration and peaked at 24 hours before declining, with container type also influencing ingestion rates.

Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on its toxicity and reproduction in Philodina roseola

Researchers tested the effects of 50 nm and 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics on a freshwater rotifer species and found that the smaller particles were more toxic. Exposure caused oxidative stress, reduced protein levels, and impaired reproduction at concentrations well below those typically tested in laboratory studies. The findings highlight that even very tiny plastic particles can significantly harm microscopic aquatic organisms that form the base of freshwater food webs.

Article Tier 2

Toxicological Effect of Polyethylene Microsphere on Brachionus Plicatilis and Daphnia Magna

This study examined the toxicity of polyethylene microspheres on two aquatic organisms — a marine rotifer and a freshwater crustacean — finding dose-dependent reductions in survival and reproduction. The results confirm that microplastic particles at environmentally relevant concentrations can harm the base of aquatic food chains.

Article Tier 2

Toxic impact of polystyrene microplastic particles in freshwater organisms

Researchers tested the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on four freshwater species including algae, rotifers, crustaceans, and ostracods. They found that water fleas were the most sensitive, with chronic effects appearing at very low concentrations, and that microplastics caused both DNA damage and increased production of reactive oxygen species. The study highlights that even at relatively low concentrations, microplastics can pose a meaningful threat to freshwater ecosystems.

Article Tier 2

Microplastic Size-Dependent Toxicity, Oxidative Stress Induction, and p-JNK and p-p38 Activation in the Monogonont Rotifer (Brachionus koreanus)

Researchers tested the effects of different sizes of polystyrene microbeads on a type of microscopic aquatic animal called a rotifer. They found that the smallest particles caused the most harm, reducing growth rate and reproduction while triggering oxidative stress and activating cellular defense pathways. The study demonstrates that microplastic toxicity increases as particle size decreases, suggesting nanoplastics may pose greater biological risks than larger fragments.

Share this paper