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Microplastic ingestion in marine mesozooplankton species associated with functional feeding traits
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This study examined microplastic ingestion in marine mesozooplankton species with different functional traits, finding that feeding mode, body size, and habitat use are key predictors of plastic uptake across zooplankton communities.
Microplastic (MP, <5 mm) contamination in the ocean raises concern for zooplankton, as their prey and MPs fall within the same size range. This study aimed to evaluate the ingestion capacity of MPs among a diverse array of mesozooplankton taxonomic groups and species from the central Mexican Pacific, focusing on two functional traits: trophic group and feeding strategy. A total of 20 taxa belonging to eight taxonomic groups, 13 which were identified to species level, were exposed to microspheres (Ms) ranging in size from 38 to 53 μm, at a concentration of 100 Ms/mL. All experimental treatments were placed in 620 mL bottles and rotated on a plankton wheel for 2 h. The results demonstrate that the capacity to ingest MPs is closely related to the trophic group and the feeding strategy of each species, independent of taxonomic group. Omnivores and omnivore-herbivores which generate feeding currents were the most susceptible to MPs ingestion, while highly carnivorous species with active feeding strategies were the least prone. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating MP ingestion by zooplankton at the species level, due to the variability of feeding strategies within taxonomic groups, and the need for continued trait-based research at the species level. A more detailed understanding of zooplankton feeding behavior, especially in ecologically significant species, could enhance trait-based modeling at a biogeographic scale, predicting areas with the highest risk of MP ingestion by zooplankton communities and evaluating global impacts.
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This western Mediterranean study examined microplastic ingestion across multiple species of fish, crustaceans, and elasmobranchs, finding that feeding traits and habitat influenced but did not fully explain plastic uptake rates. The results indicate that a range of commercially important marine species are exposed to microplastics, with mean ingestion rates up to 2.3 particles per individual.
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Researchers analyzed microplastic levels in the bodies of marine bottom-dwelling invertebrates across different ocean regions and found that the amount of microplastic ingested depended more on the animals' feeding strategies and body traits than on local pollution levels alone. Filter-feeding and deposit-feeding species accumulated the most particles. The study suggests that simply measuring environmental microplastic concentrations may not accurately predict how much wildlife in an area is actually ingesting.
Do different habits affect microplastics contents in organisms? A trait-based analysis on salt marsh species
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Scientists measured microplastic occurrence in six benthic invertebrate species from salt marshes in northern Italy and the Netherlands, finding that species feeding habits, body size, and habitat use were better predictors of microplastic contamination than sampling location alone.
Bioavailability and effects of microplastics on marine zooplankton: A review
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This review synthesized laboratory and field evidence on microplastic bioavailability and effects on marine zooplankton, finding that multiple taxa readily ingest microplastics with negative impacts on feeding, reproduction, and energy balance, and that zooplankton represent a critical route for transferring microplastics into marine food webs. The authors identify particle size, concentration, and feeding behavior as the main determinants of microplastic bioavailability to zooplankton.
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Species-specific responses to environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations were assessed across multiple marine organisms within a functional group study. Results showed that responses differed substantially between species, indicating that single-species tests cannot reliably predict community-level effects of microplastic contamination.
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