We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics on the menu; exploring interactions between two mosquitoes species and microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed larvae of two mosquito species with contrasting feeding ecologies (Anopheles gambiae and Aedes albopictus) to varying concentrations, sizes, and densities of polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics, finding that ingestion risk was primarily determined by particle size rather than larval ecology, and that microplastics affected survival only in An. gambiae adults at the highest concentration, with no physical or chemical alteration of microplastics detected post-digestion.
Microplastic pollution exposes organisms to severe alterations in their life history traits. Once ingested, microplastics can fragment further, facilitating their dispersal in ecosystems. However, the risk of ingestion and the capacity for fragmentation vary among organisms based on their ecology. In this study, we used two mosquito species with different larval ecologies: Anopheles gambiae, which filters particles at the surface, and Aedes albopictus, which grazes on biofilm on submerged surfaces. We exposed them to various concentrations, sizes, and densities of microplastics (polystyrene, which sinks, and polyethylene, which floats). We assessed the probability of ingestion, the quantities ingested, and the impacts on survival, sex ratio and individual size. We also investigated whether these larvae could physically or chemically alter the microplastics during digestion. The risk of microplastic ingestion primarily depends on particle size rather than larval ecology. Only the survival of An. gambiae adults exposed during larval development was affected by microplastics, and this was only at the highest concentration. Microplastics had no impact on other measured traits. No physical or chemical alteration of the microplastics was detected following ingestion.
More Papers Like This
The effects of nano– and microplastic ingestion on the survivorship and reproduction of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigated whether ingesting micro- and nanoplastics affects the survival and reproduction of two disease-carrying mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Nanoplastics at the smallest tested size (0.03 µm) reduced pupal survival and egg production in Ae. aegypti, while larger microplastics had limited effects on survivorship. The results raise concerns that widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in aquatic breeding habitats could affect mosquito population dynamics, with potential implications for vector-borne disease transmission.
Microplastic ingestion perturbs the microbiome of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito larvae to polystyrene microplastics and found that ingestion altered adult emergence rates, caused gut tissue damage, and disrupted the gut microbiome, demonstrating that microplastic contamination can impair mosquito development.
Microplastic ingestion perturbs the microbiome of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes aegypti
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed mosquito larvae polystyrene microplastics and found the particles accumulated in their guts, caused physical damage, and disrupted both bacterial and fungal communities in their bodies. The microplastics persisted through the larval stage into adulthood and were shed in adult feces. While focused on mosquitoes, this study shows how microplastics can alter the microbiome of insects that interact closely with humans and spread disease.
The effects of nano- and microplastic ingestion on the survivorship and reproduction of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how nano- and microplastic ingestion affects survivorship and reproduction in small invertebrates, finding that exposure reduced reproductive output and survival rates in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that even environmentally relevant concentrations of plastic particles can impair fitness in aquatic invertebrates.
Interactions between microplastics and Culex sp. larvae in wastewater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the interaction between microplastics and mosquito larvae in Egyptian wastewater treatment plants, finding that the larvae actively ingest plastic particles. They documented seasonal variation in microplastic abundance at the treatment facilities and showed that contaminated larvae could transfer plastics to adult mosquitoes. The study highlights an overlooked pathway by which microplastics in wastewater can spread into terrestrial ecosystems through flying insects.
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.