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Impact of size and shape in the transport of microplastics by a springtail species
Summary
Researchers investigated how the size and shape of polypropylene microplastics (beads, fibers, and films at 0.5 and 1.0 mm) affected transport by the springtail Folsomia candida in laboratory dish experiments. Beads showed the highest transport percentage (9.10%) compared to fibers (3.18%) and films (4.10%), with size-dependent differences in transport rates varying by shape.
We investigated the impact of shape (beads, fibers and films) and size (0.5 and 1.0 mm; diameter or length) of polypropylene microplastics (MPs) on MP transport by a springtail species, Folsomia candida in dishes. The percentages of transported beads, fibers and films were 9.10%, 3.18% and 4.10%, respectively. For 1.0 mm MPs, the number of MPs transported was significantly higher for beads than for fibers and films, whereas, for 0.5 mm MPs, the number was significantly higher for fibers than for the other MP types. Additionally, the number of MPs transported was higher for small fibers than for large fibers, whereas it was higher for large beads than for small beads. These results indicate that the effects of F. candida on MP migration depend on MP shape and size. Our results highlight the importance of considering the physical characteristics of MPs while elucidating the interaction between soil fauna and MPs.