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Multi-dimensional visualization of ingestion, biological effects and interactions of microplastics and a representative POP in edible jellyfish
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Researchers used in vivo imaging, radioisotope tracing, and histological staining to visualize how micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in different tissues of edible jellyfish and interact with persistent organic pollutants, revealing tissue-specific distribution patterns and combined toxicity effects.
Due to their ubiquity and potential risks, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are concerning environmental issues. Yet there are still significant knowledge gaps in understanding the tissue-specific accumulation and dynamic change of MPs and NPs in the aquatic organism and how these micro/nano-scale emerging contaminants interact with other environmental pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Here, in vivo imaging systems (IVIS), radioisotope tracing, and histological staining were innovatively used to reveal the fate and toxicity of fluorescently-labeled MPs/NPs and C-labeled 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB28) in edible jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum. These contaminants' ingestion, biological effects, and interactions were visualized at cellular, tissue, and whole-body multidimensional levels. Both MPs and NPs were shown to be preferentially accumulated in the mouthlets of oral arms, and most ingested MPs/NPs were present in the extracellular environment instead of being internalized into the mesoglea. Moreover, the presence of MPs or NPs in the seawater significantly inhibited the bioaccumulation of PCB28 in the jellyfish tissue, thus alleviating physiological alteration, gastric damage, and apoptosis caused by PCB28. This study provides a multi-dimensional visualization strategy to display the distribution and biological effects of typical pollutants in marine organisms and offers new insights for understanding the impacts of MPs/NPs and POPs on marine ecosystems.
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Episodic records of jellyfish ingestion of plastic items reveal a novel pathway for trophic transference of marine litter
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Researchers documented for the first time that jellyfish ingest macroplastic debris, revealing a previously overlooked pathway by which plastic pollution travels up the marine food chain. This finding raises fresh concern about how widely plastic is spreading through ocean ecosystems via invertebrates, which make up the vast majority of marine life.
Correlative Light, Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy Workflow To Detect and Observe Microplastic Interactions with Whole Jellyfish
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Researchers developed a correlative workflow combining light microscopy, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to detect and observe microplastic interactions with whole Cassiopea andromeda jellyfish. The study demonstrated that juvenile jellyfish interact with polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene microplastics, and the multi-technique analytical approach enabled detailed visualization of how these particles associate with jellyfish tissue.
Dataset: Correlative Light, Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy Workflow to Detect and Observe Microplastic Interactions with Whole Jellyfish
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Researchers developed a correlative microscopy and Raman spectroscopy workflow to detect fluorescent PET and polypropylene microplastics in whole jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda), finding that microplastic interaction with medusae was primarily driven by particle properties such as density and hydrophobicity.
Dataset: Correlative Light, Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy Workflow to Detect and Observe Microplastic Interactions with Whole Jellyfish
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Researchers developed a correlative microscopy and Raman spectroscopy workflow to detect fluorescent PET and polypropylene microplastics in whole jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda), finding that microplastic interaction with medusae was primarily driven by particle properties such as density and hydrophobicity.
Ecotoxicological effects of micro and nanoplastics in gelatinous zooplankton
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Researchers exposed ephyra-stage Aurelia sp. jellyfish to polyethylene microplastics (1-4 µm) and polystyrene nanoplastics (100 nm) at concentrations of 0.01-10 mg/L, using 3D holotomographic microscopy to confirm particle ingestion in the gelatinous body and mouth. Only microplastic ingestion affected survival, while both microplastics and nanoplastics impaired pulsation frequency, though full recovery occurred within 24-72 hours after transfer to clean seawater.
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