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Unraveling the interplay between environmental microplastics and salinity stress on Mytilus galloprovincialis larval development: A holistic exploration
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Researchers studied how environmental microplastics and increased salinity together affect the early development of Mediterranean mussel larvae. The combination caused larval deformities, developmental problems, and changes in gene activity related to shell formation, stress response, and cell damage. These findings are concerning because climate change is altering ocean salinity in coastal areas where microplastic pollution is also heavy, and mussels are a food source that could pass accumulated microplastics to humans.
The rise of plastic production has triggered a surge in plastic waste, overwhelming marine ecosystems with microplastics. The effects of climate change, notably changing salinity, have shaped the dynamics of coastal lagoons. Thus, understanding the combined impact of these phenomena on marine organisms becomes increasingly crucial. To address these knowledge gaps, we investigated for the first time the interactive effects of environmental microplastics (EMPs) and increased salinity on the early development of Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae. Morphological assessments using the larval embryotoxicity test revealed larval anomalies and developmental arrests induced by EMPs and increased salinity. Transcriptomic analyses targeting 12 genes involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis, DNA repair, shell formation, and stress proteins were conducted on D-larvae uncovered the potential effects of EMPs on shell biomineralization, highlighting the role of Histidine Rich Glycoproteine (HRG) and tubulin as crucial adaptive mechanisms in Mytilus sp. in response to environmental shifts. Furthermore, we explored oxidative stress and neurotoxicity using biochemical assays. Our findings revealed a potential interaction between EMPs and increased salinity, impacting multiple physiological processes in mussel larvae. Our data contribute to understanding the cumulative effects of emerging anthropogenic pollutants and environmental stressors, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to assessing their impact on marine ecosystems.
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Researchers found that the combination of ocean acidification and microplastic exposure weakened mussel immune systems, reduced feeding performance, and degraded the quality of byssus threads used for attachment. The study suggests that co-occurring ocean acidification and microplastic pollution could increase the vulnerability of bivalves to disease and dislodgement, threatening their survival in future marine environments.
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Exposing Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) gametes to 50 or 100 µg/L environmental microplastics for 1 hour reduced fertilization success, increased larval malformation rates, and caused DNA degradation, demonstrating reproductive toxicity from environmentally realistic MP concentrations.
The combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and temperature stress on Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lamarck, 1819
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Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and rising water temperatures on Mediterranean mussels. The study found that microplastic exposure amplified temperature-related stress, leading to increased mortality, greater oxidative damage, and more severe tissue changes, suggesting that these two environmental stressors interact to worsen harm to marine organisms.
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