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In Situ Microplastic Ingestion by Marine Zooplankton: a Review
Summary
Tiny ocean creatures called zooplankton, a key food source for fish, are eating microplastics, which could allow these plastic particles to move up the food chain and potentially end up on our plates. This review of existing research finds that most lab studies use much higher microplastic concentrations than what's actually found in the ocean, meaning the real-world health risks are still unclear. Scientists say more real-world (not just lab) studies are needed before we can fully understand how serious this risk really is.
Microplastics (MP) contamination is increasingly prevalent in small lower trophic marine organisms.Zooplankton, as major grazers and an important food source in the oceans, provide a critical pathway for MP transfer and bioaccumulation across marine food webs.Although many studies have reported adverse biological effects of MP ingestion in zooplankton, there is a lack of integration between laboratory findings and field observations.This review aims to identify the knowledge gaps on in situ MP ingestion by zooplankton and the underlying environmental factors influencing the bioavailability and ingestion of MP.Many laboratory studies use elevated concentrations of MP exceeding those reported in the field, and the associated effects may be overestimated.It is important for future experimental designs to integrate ecological relevance to augment the association with the natural environment in evaluating the potential consequences of MP ingestion in a broader range of zooplankton species and life stages.Environmental variables such as rainfall and water movement, and the spatiotemporal overlap of MP and zooplankton, are important factors shaping the bioavailability and ingestion of MP.More field (in situ) studies are necessary to better understand the mechanisms of MP ingestion in the natural environment.