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Ocean acidification and nanoplastics disrupt mussel calcification in synergy: A multi-omics analysis
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Mussels exposed to more acidic seawater (from ocean acidification) and tiny plastic particles struggled to repair their shells properly, growing thinner, weaker shells with less calcium, and the problem got worse when both stressors combined. This matters because mussels and other shellfish are a major food source worldwide, and as oceans absorb more CO2 and plastic pollution while these tiny particles work their way into seafood, this research suggests the combination could hurt the quality and availability of the shellfish we eat.
Ocean acidification (OA) and nanoplastics (NPs) increasingly co-occur in coastal ecosystems, yet their combined mechanistic impacts on calcifying invertebrates remain poorly resolved. Here, the mussel Mytilus coruscus was exposed for 30 days to factorial combinations of OA (pH 7.7 vs 8.1), surface-modified polystyrene NPs at a concentration of 100 μg/L (positively and negatively charged), and experimental shell damage to assess effects on shell repair, ion homeostasis, and energy metabolism. OA reduced shell repair quality by thinning repair layers, increasing porosity, and lowering calcium content, effects that were further enhanced by co-exposure to NPs, particularly negatively charged particles. OA and NPs jointly altered Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ levels, alkaline phosphatase activity, Ca 2+ Mg 2+ -ATPase activity, and key indicators of energy metabolism, including ATP content and cellular energy allocation. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed enrichment of ion transport, extracellular matrix, TGF- β signaling and other pathways, with divergent patterns linked to NPs surface charge. Together, these results suggest that nanoplastic surface charge under OA may impair mussel shell repair through associated alterations in ion homeostasis and energy metabolism. These findings highlight that particle surface properties shape how organisms respond to combined environmental stressors in acidifying marine environments.
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Microplastics can aggravate the impact of ocean acidification on the health of mussels: Insights from physiological performance, immunity and byssus properties
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Researchers found that the combination of ocean acidification and microplastic exposure weakened mussel immune systems, reduced feeding performance, and degraded the quality of byssus threads used for attachment. The study suggests that co-occurring ocean acidification and microplastic pollution could increase the vulnerability of bivalves to disease and dislodgement, threatening their survival in future marine environments.
Synthesized effects of medium-term exposure to seawater acidification and microplastics on the physiology and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus
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Researchers found that combined exposure to ocean acidification and microplastics significantly reduced the feeding rate, food absorption, and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus, with acidification amplifying the negative effects of microplastics.
Integrative approach to assess the combined impact of microplastics and algal toxins in mussels
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Tiny plastic particles in the ocean can make harmful algal toxins stick around longer in mussels and cause more damage to their tissues than the toxins would alone. This matters because mussels are a food we eat, and these findings show that ocean pollution from microplastics could make seafood more dangerous by helping toxic chemicals accumulate and persist in the animals we harvest.
Marine mussel metabolism under stress: Dual effects of nanoplastics and coastal hypoxia
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This study examined how nanoplastics and low oxygen levels together affect marine mussels, finding that both stressors disrupted the animals' internal balance and energy metabolism. The combination of nanoplastics and oxygen-depleted water was more harmful than either stressor alone, damaging cellular defenses against oxidative stress. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, these findings raise questions about the safety of shellfish harvested from polluted, oxygen-poor coastal waters.
Anti-predatory responses of Mytilus coruscus to the combined effects of ocean acidification and microplastics
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Mussels use sticky protein threads (called byssus) to anchor themselves and defend against predators, but this study found that ocean acidification, driven by rising CO2 levels, weakens this defense system, while microplastic pollution alone doesn't do much damage. The real concern is that when acidification and microplastics combine, they team up to make mussels more vulnerable to predators, which could disrupt coastal food webs and shellfish populations that many communities rely on for food. This matters for human health because it's a warning sign that pollution and climate stressors can interact in unexpected ways, potentially threatening the seafood supply chain we depend
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