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Conventional Versus Bio-Based Microplastics—Altered Coloration of Two Freshwater Decapod Crustaceans
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Crayfish and shrimp were fed diets containing conventional plastics (polyethylene, polystyrene) or plant-based plastic (PLA). Polyethylene reduced crayfish growth and coloration, while all three plastic types altered shell coloration in one or both species, changes possibly linked to stress and increased bacteria in the water.
Plastic pollution is an escalating issue, and exposure to it can cause various negative reactions in different organisms. In response, bio-based plastics have been developed as a safer alternative for the environment, organisms, and humans. This study represents the first attempt to assess the impact of bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) and two conventional polymers: polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) on the growth, survival, and coloration of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, an invasive and aquaculture species of great economic importance and bamboo shrimp Atyopsis moluccensis, the popular species in aquarium industry. Juvenile crayfish were fed diets based on two types of commercial feed—insect meal and fish meal. The adult shrimp fed commercial crustacean food. The results showed that supply of polyethylene microplastic with food reduced the growth and coloration in P. clarkii. Polystyrene microplastic affected the carapace coloration in A. moluccensis, while no significant effect on growth was observed. Furthermore, the ingestion of bio-based PLA was associated with alterations in coloration in both crayfish and shrimp when compared to the control group. The observed changes in coloration may indicate a deterioration in body condition due to oxidative stress, potentially induced by exposure to stress factors, such as microplastic exposure. An increased abundance of Staphylococcus spp. was observed in the treatment water of crayfish-exposed groups. The addition of both bioplastic and conventional microplastics facilitates bacterial growth and resulted in an increased presence of Gram-positive bacteria. Our study provides the first evidence of coloration changes in decapods in response to microplastics, potentially linked to microorganisms that may contribute to an inflammatory response.
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Accumulation of polyethylene microplastics induces oxidative stress, microbiome dysbiosis and immunoregulation in crayfish
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Researchers exposed crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) to polyethylene microplastics through their diet for 21 days and found that particles accumulated in the intestine, hepatopancreas, gills, and blood, persisting even after a week of depuration in clean water. The accumulated microplastics caused oxidative stress, disrupted the gut microbiome, and altered immune regulation. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may compromise the health and immune defenses of commercially important freshwater crustaceans.
Physiological response of freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus exposed to polyethylene microplastics at different temperature
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Freshwater crayfish exposed to polyethylene microplastics showed liver stress, disrupted blood chemistry, and weakened immune responses, with higher temperatures making the effects worse. The combination of microplastic exposure and warmer water caused greater damage to antioxidant defenses and enzyme activity than either stressor alone. As climate change raises water temperatures, aquatic organisms may become more vulnerable to microplastic toxicity, which could affect the safety of freshwater species consumed by humans.
Microplastics in feed cause sublethal changes in the intestinal microbiota and a non-specific immune response indicator of the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae)
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Researchers fed freshwater crayfish a diet containing recycled PET microplastics and examined the effects on gut bacteria and immune function. They found that microplastic exposure caused an imbalance in intestinal microbiota, increasing potentially harmful bacteria while decreasing beneficial species. The study also showed a weakened immune response, suggesting that microplastic contamination in aquatic food sources can compromise the health of the organisms that consume them.
Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Hepatopancreas Histology, Intestinal Microbiota, and Metabolic Response in Cherax quadricarinatus
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Researchers exposed redclaw crayfish to different concentrations of polystyrene microplastics and examined the effects on organ tissue, gut microbiota, and metabolism. At high concentrations, microplastics caused damage to hepatopancreatic tissues, shifted gut bacterial communities toward potentially harmful species, and disrupted amino acid metabolic pathways. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater environments can have cascading effects on the internal biology of aquatic crustaceans.
Toxic mechanisms of nanoplastics exposure at environmental concentrations on juvenile red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): From multiple perspectives
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Researchers exposed juvenile red swamp crayfish to nanoplastics at concentrations found in the environment and observed stunted growth, oxidative stress, liver and gill damage, and changes in gene activity. Different concentrations triggered different toxic pathways, including immune disruption and metabolic problems. Since crayfish are a widely consumed freshwater species, these findings raise concerns about nanoplastic contamination in the food supply.
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