Article
?
AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button.
Tier 2
?
Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Marine & Wildlife
Sign in to save
Plastics counteract the ability of Antarctic krill to promote the blue carbon pathway in the deep ocean
Marine Pollution Bulletin2024
1 citation
?
Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 35
?
0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Researchers found that exposure to nanoplastics — particularly negatively charged polystyrene particles — accelerates the breakdown of Antarctic krill fecal pellets, which are a key mechanism for transporting carbon from the surface ocean to the deep sea. This disruption could reduce the ocean's capacity to sequester carbon by as much as 5.5 million tonnes per productive season, linking plastic pollution directly to climate change.
The Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) play a critical role in promoting the so-called "blue carbon pathway" by producing a large amount of fast-sinking faecal pellets (FPs) which facilitate the transport of CO<sub>2</sub> through the water column. Here we assess how exposure to negatively (PS-COOH) and positively (PS-NH<sub>2</sub>) charged polystyrene nanoparticles, impacts degradation of krill FPs (i.e. change in peritrophic membrane state, Carbon concentration and Carbon/Nitrogen ratio). Our findings suggest that exposure of nanoplastics, particularly negatively charged particles, increases krill FP degradation. This can result in a potential loss of FP-sequestrated C of up to 27 %, equivalent to up 5.5 Mt. C per productive season (Spring-early Autumn). This study provides new insights into how increasing levels of plastic pollution could affect the natural capital provided by krill FPs. The effect of this emerging anthropogenic contaminant should be considered by international policies focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation.