We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of microplastics on reproductive characteristics and mechanisms of the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis
Summary
Researchers exposed marine rotifers (tiny animals at the base of the ocean food chain) to naturally aged microplastics collected from Japanese coastal waters and found reduced reproduction and population growth. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress and suppressed genes involved in reproduction. Since rotifers are food for many fish species, harm to their populations could ripple up through the food chain.
Microplastic pollution, especially secondary microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Despite its prevalence, the impact of natural-aged MPs on marine organisms, hindered by collection challenges, remains poorly understood. This study focused on 1-3 μm natural-aged MPs collected from Japan's coastal sea, investigating their effects on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis sensu stricto and its reproductive mechanisms. Rotifers exposed to varying MP concentrations (0, 20, and 200 particles/mL) over 14-day batch cultures exhibited reduced population growth and fertilization rates. Down-regulation of reproductive genes and up-regulation of oxidative stress-related genes were observed, indicating MP-induced disruptions. Enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase and acetylcholinesterase and elevated malondialdehyde levels further emphasized oxidative stress. These findings underscore the detrimental impact of MPs on rotifer reproductivity, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Toxic effects of fragmented polyethylene terephthalate particles on the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus: Based on ingestion and egestion assay, in vivo toxicity test, and multi-omics analysis
Scientists tested the effects of fragmented PET microplastics, one of the most common types found in the ocean, on tiny marine organisms called rotifers. While the microplastics did not directly kill the rotifers, they increased oxidative stress and disrupted energy metabolism and immune-related genes. Since rotifers are at the base of the marine food chain, damage to these organisms could have ripple effects that eventually reach humans through seafood.
Effect of microplastics on the demography of Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas (Rotifera) over successive generations
Researchers examined how microplastic exposure affects the population dynamics of a freshwater rotifer species across two successive generations. They found that microplastics reduced reproduction rates and lifespan, with effects carrying over into the second generation even when exposure was removed. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may have lasting population-level consequences for small aquatic organisms.
Metabolism deficiency and oxidative stress induced by plastic particles in the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis: Common and distinct phenotypic and transcriptomic responses to nano- and microplastics
Researchers found that nanoplastics caused stronger reproductive and population growth inhibition in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis than microplastics, with transcriptomic analysis revealing distinct size-dependent toxicity pathways involving metabolism deficiency and oxidative stress.
Small-Sized Microplastics Negatively Affect Rotifers: Changes in the Key Life-History Traits and Rotifer–Phaeocystis Population Dynamics
Researchers found that small-sized microplastics negatively affected rotifer survival, reproduction, and feeding rates, and also disrupted the population dynamics of rotifers interacting with the harmful alga Phaeocystis in coastal water microcosms.
Adverse effects of environmentally relevant microplastics on in vivo endpoints, oxidative stress, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and multixenobiotic resistance system in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis
Researchers compared the toxicological effects of different types of microplastics on marine rotifers, including fossil fuel-based, bio-based, and biodegradable varieties. The study found that all microplastic types reduced reproductive output and lifespan at environmentally relevant concentrations, with each type triggering distinct patterns of oxidative stress and cellular defense responses, highlighting ecological risks from both conventional and alternative plastics.