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Nanoplastic uptake temporarily affects the pulsing behavior in ephyrae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp
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Researchers found that nanoplastic uptake temporarily affected the pulsing behavior of moon jellyfish ephyrae, with younger individuals showing greater sensitivity, providing the first evidence of nanoplastic ecotoxicological effects in marine cnidarians.
The aim of this study is to investigate for the first time the uptake and ecotoxicological effects of nanoplastics (NPs) in a marine cnidarian. Ephyrae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. of different ages (0 and 7 days old) were exposed to negatively charged polystyrene NPs for 24 h; then, the uptake was assessed through traditional and novel techniques, namely microscopy and three-dimensional (3D) holotomography. Immobility and behavioral responses (frequency of pulsations) of ephyrae were also investigated to clarify if NP toxicity differed along the first life stages. NP uptake was observed in ephyrae thanks to the 3D technique. Such internalization did not affect survival, but it temporarily impaired the pulsation mode only in 0 day old ephyrae. This may be ascribed to the negative charged NPs, contributing to jellyfish behavioral alteration. These findings promote 3D holotomography as a suitable tool to detect NPs in marine organisms. Moreover, this study recommends the use of cnidarians of different ages to better assess NP ecotoxicological effects in these organisms, key components of the marine food web.
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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.
Microplastics ingestion in the ephyra stage of Aurelia sp. triggers acute and behavioral responses
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Young jellyfish (Aurelia sp. in the ephyra stage) were shown to ingest microplastics and exhibit acute physiological and behavioral responses, including altered swimming patterns and feeding behavior. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastic ingestion affects jellyfish at an early life stage, with potential implications for their population dynamics.
Do Virgin and Chemical-Spiked Microplastics Affect Ephyrae Jellyfish Survival and Behaviour?
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For the first time, this study compared the toxicity of virgin and pollutant-spiked polyethylene microplastics on Aurelia jellyfish ephyrae, examining both survival and behavioral endpoints. Chemically contaminated microplastics were more toxic than virgin particles, confirming that adsorbed pollutants amplify the hazard posed by plastic particles to marine organisms.
Limited ingestion, rapid egestion and no detectable impacts of microbeads on the moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita
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Moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) ingested microbeads at low rates and egested them quickly, with no detectable effects on their metabolism or gut tissue. This suggests jellyfish may be relatively resilient to microplastic exposure, though they could still transport ingested particles through the water column.
Ingestion of polyethylene microspheres occur only in presence of prey in the jellyfish Aurelia aurita
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Researchers found that jellyfish only ingest polyethylene microspheres when prey is also present, suggesting that accidental microplastic ingestion by jellyfish depends on context rather than being constant. This finding has implications for understanding microplastic uptake pathways in marine food webs.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.