We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The effects of expanded polystyrene particle on energy metabolism of the sea slater (Ligia cinerascens) originating from a highly EPS-polluted area
Summary
Researchers studied how dietary exposure to expanded polystyrene particles affects energy metabolism in juvenile sea slaters from a heavily polluted Korean coastal area. While body weight and molting were unaffected, the study found that EPS exposure significantly reduced energy reserves including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, suggesting that even sub-lethal microplastic exposure can compromise the energy status of coastal organisms.
Due to its high concentration and persistence, microplastic (MP) pollution is a major threat to marine environments. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles are the most abundant MP type in Asian regions, including the Korean coastal region. Although many previous studies have reported the toxicity of MPs to marine biota, the toxicity of environmentally relevant MPs to coastal organisms is not well understood. Thus, we investigated the toxicity of EPS on the growth and energy metabolism of the juvenile marine isopods, Ligia cinerascens, obtained from a population that has been exposed to EPS through multiple generations. After 14 and 21 days of dietary EPS exposure, body weight and molting of L. cinerascens were unaffected. However, the energy reserves (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) were significantly reduced, resulting in a decrease in the total energy budget (E) by dietary EPS exposure. The transcriptional modulation patterns of genes related to energy metabolism suggested that dietary EPS exposure may increase the digestion of non-carbohydrate sources, such as proteins and lipids, to compensate for increased energy expenditure. Our findings suggest that dietary EPS exposure, although no toxic at the individual level, can reduce the energy status of juvenile marine isopods, which provides useful information on the toxic effects of environmentally relevant MPs to coastal ecosystem.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid changes in Monopterus albus
Researchers exposed Asian swamp eels to different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics over 35 days to study effects on metabolism. Evidence indicates that high concentrations of nanoplastics disrupted energy metabolism by altering gluconeogenic pathways and affected amino acid profiles, suggesting that nanoplastic ingestion through the food chain may pose metabolic risks to aquatic organisms.
Microplastics disrupt energy metabolism in the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis
Researchers exposed the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis to polystyrene microplastics and found disruption of digestive enzyme activity and depletion of energy reserves, demonstrating that microplastics impair energy metabolism in this zooplankton species.
Polystyrene microplastics alter the behavior, energy reserve and nutritional composition of marine jacopever (Sebastes schlegelii)
Researchers exposed juvenile jacopever fish to polystyrene microplastics and observed significant changes in feeding behavior, swimming activity, and energy reserves. The fish took longer to find food, moved less, and showed reduced levels of stored energy and altered nutritional composition in their tissues. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can impair the basic survival behaviors and overall fitness of marine fish.
The pivotal role of bioenergetics in characterizing the hazards of polystyrene and polyethylene nanoparticles to bivalve health and development.
This study examined the metabolic toxicity of various nanoplastics on coastal marine organisms by focusing on bioenergetics, measuring how plastic particles disrupt the energy balance of animals adapted to coastal habitats. Nanoplastic exposure impaired energy metabolism, suggesting physiological stress that could affect survival and fitness in polluted coastal environments.
The Effect of Microplastics on the Bioenergetics of the Mussel Mytilus coruscus Assessed by Cellular Energy Allocation Approach
Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the energy budget of mussels using a cellular energy allocation approach. They found that higher concentrations of microplastics increased energy demands while depleting carbohydrate, lipid, and protein stores, with lipid and protein levels failing to fully recover even after the microplastics were removed.