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Microplastic filtering and its physiological effects on the Mediterranean bath sponge Spongia officinalis (Porifera, Demospongiae)
Summary
Researchers tested how the Mediterranean bath sponge filters and responds to microplastic particles in seawater. They found that these sponges are highly efficient at capturing microplastics in the 1-5 micrometer size range but showed signs of physiological stress including changes in respiration and cellular damage. The findings suggest that filter-feeding marine organisms like sponges are both exposed to and affected by microplastic contamination.
Microplastics (MPs) pose an increasing and significant threat to marine biodiversity and there is a current need to determine the effects of exposure on benthic sessile invertebrates. This study examines the filtration capacity and retention of MP particles, as well as their physiological impacts in the marine sponge Spongia officinalis, a bioindicator species. The findings revealed a very high filtration capacity for MPs within the size range of 1-5 μm, along with a rapid turnover rate, as a large portion of particles were expelled within 48 h of exposure. Histological analyses detected MP particles within the cellular structures of the analyzed tissues, indicating that MPs of this size can penetrate cellular barriers. In terms of physiological effects, detoxification activity was activated during the depuration phase, and lipid peroxidation was observed during both the exposure and depuration phases. Overall, this study provides critical insights into the filtration and retention capacity, intercellular integration of MP particles, and the physiological effects of MP exposure in S. officinalis, providing a baseline for future research.