We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Species-specific microplastic ingestion responses to biofilm in Eastern Tropical Pacific zooplankton
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studying tiny ocean creatures (zooplankton) found that whether these organisms eat microplastic particles depends on both the species and whether the plastic has a coating of algae and bacteria (called biofilm) on it — one species preferred coated plastic, another preferred bare plastic, and a third didn't care either way. Since zooplankton are at the base of the ocean food chain, this matters because it shows microplastic pollution can enter marine food webs in unpredictable ways, which is relevant to understanding how plastics may eventually work their way up to the seafood humans eat.
Microplastics are pervasive in pelagic environments and overlap in size with zooplankton prey, resulting in widespread ingestion. Responses may vary among species due to feeding traits. We tested ingestion responses to surface conditioning (clean vs biofilm-covered) of fluorescent polyethylene microspheres (38-45 μm; 10 Ms mL) under natural food conditions during short-term exposure (2 h) in three tropical zooplankton: Subeucalanus crassus, Centropages furcatus, and Euphausia distinguenda. We hypothesized species-specific responses, with copepods favoring biofilm-covered particles and the euphausiid showing no preference. In S. crassus, ingestion occurred in 50% of individuals with biofilm and 0% with clean particles (p = 0.063). In C. furcatus, ingestion occurred in 67% with clean and 0% with biofilm (p = 0.019). In E. distinguenda, ingestion was similar across treatments (p = 0.588). These results suggest species-specific differences in early-stage ingestion responses to particle surface condition, including responses that deviate from expected trait-based predictions.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic ingestion by three copepod species with contrasting feeding strategies along an environmental gradient in the Gulf of Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny ocean creatures called copepods—a key food source for fish—are eating microplastics regardless of their feeding style, with what's available in their local water seeming to matter more than how they hunt for food. Since these copepods are at the bottom of the marine food chain, this suggests the amount of microplastic pollution in an area may be a bigger factor than species behavior in determining how much plastic works its way up to the fish we eat.
Microplastic ingestion in marine mesozooplankton species associated with functional feeding traits
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined microplastic ingestion in marine mesozooplankton species with different functional traits, finding that feeding mode, body size, and habitat use are key predictors of plastic uptake across zooplankton communities.
The role of microbe-microplastic associations in marine Nematode feeding behaviors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microbial biofilms growing on microplastics influenced marine nematode feeding behavior, with nematodes showing preferential consumption of biofilm-coated particles, suggesting that microbial colonization plays a key role in why organisms ingest microplastics.
Aging of microplastics promotes their ingestion by marine zooplankton
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether marine zooplankton prefer microplastics that have been aged in seawater over pristine ones, hypothesizing that biofilm formation makes particles more attractive. They found that several copepod species and life stages did indeed ingest aged microplastic beads at higher rates than new ones. The study suggests that natural biofilm coating on ocean microplastics may make them resemble food, increasing the likelihood that marine organisms will consume them.
Microplastic Ingestion by Zooplankton
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined whether tiny marine animals called zooplankton can ingest microplastics, and researchers found that thirteen different zooplankton species consumed plastic beads of various sizes. The plastics also stuck to the animals' outer shells and significantly reduced their normal feeding on algae, suggesting that microplastic pollution could disrupt the base of the marine food web.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.