We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Size-dependent response of the mussel collective behaviour to plastic leachates and predator cues
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polypropylene microplastic leachates disrupted the collective anti-predator behavior of blue mussels, impairing the aggregation response that protects them from predatory crabs — with small mussels, the crab's preferred prey, most severely affected — suggesting plastic pollution could destabilize intertidal ecosystems through behavioral cascades.
Both individual and collective anti-predator behaviours are essential for the survival of many species. This is particularly true for ecosystem engineers such as intertidal mussels, which through their collective behaviour create novel habitats for a range of organisms and biodiversity hotspots. However, contaminants may disrupt these behaviours and consequently indirectly affect exposure to predation risk at the population level. Among these, plastic litter is a major and ubiquitous contaminant of the marine environment. Here, we assessed the impact of microplastic (MP) leachates of the most produced plastic polymer, polypropylene (PlasticsEurope, 2022), at a high but locally relevant concentration (i.e. ca. 12 g L) on the collective behaviours and anti-predator responses of both small and large Mytilus edulis mussels. Indeed, in contrast to large mussels, small ones reacted to MP leachates, showing a taxis towards conspecifics and stronger aggregations. All mussels reacted to the chemical cues of the predatory crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, but with two different collective anti-predator behaviours. Small mussels only showed a taxis towards conspecifics when exposed to predator cues. This response was also found in large ones with a tendency to form more strongly bound aggregations and a considerable reduced activity, i.e. they significantly delayed their time to start to form aggregations and decreased their gross distance. These anti-predator behaviours were respectively inhibited and impaired in small and large mussels by MP leachates. The observed collective behavioural changes may reduce individual fitness by enhancing predation risk, particularly in small mussels that are the crab H. sanguineus's favourite preys. Given the key role of mussels as ecosystem engineers, our observations suggest that plastic pollution may have implication on M. edulis at the species level, but also enhancing a cascading effect towards a higher level of organisation such as population, community and ultimately structure and function of intertidal ecosystem.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic leachates impair behavioural vigilance and predator avoidance in a temperate intertidal gastropod
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that leachates from microplastics impaired chemical vigilance and predator avoidance behavior in an intertidal gastropod, demonstrating that microplastic chemical contamination can compromise anti-predator responses in marine invertebrates even without direct particle ingestion.
Microplastic leachates inhibit small-scale self-organization in mussel beds
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that chemical leachates from plastic pellets collected in the intertidal zone disrupted the ability of mussels to form self-organized spatial patterns and produce byssal threads. The study suggests that plastic pollution may undermine the natural self-organization processes that help mussel beds maintain ecosystem resilience, representing a previously unrecognized threat to intertidal habitat stability.
Microplastic leachates disrupt the chemotactic and chemokinetic behaviours of an ecosystem engineer (Mytilus edulis)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that leachates from virgin polypropylene plastic beads disrupt the chemotactic and chemokinetic behaviors of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), impairing this ecosystem engineer's ability to respond to chemical cues and potentially compromising its ecological roles in coastal habitats.
Microplastic leachates induce chemical disruption of chemotactic and chemokinetic responses of an ecosystem engineer (Mytilus edulis)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that leachates from microplastic particles disrupt the chemotaxis and chemokinesis of blue mussels — their ability to detect and respond to chemical signals in water. These behavioral disruptions could impair the ability of mussels to locate food or avoid predators in contaminated environments. The study highlights that chemical leaching from microplastics, not just the particles themselves, can harm marine organisms.
Microplastic exposure increases predictability of predator avoidance strategies in hermit crabs
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed European hermit crabs to microplastics and found the crabs became less cautious and more predictable in their predator-avoidance behavior, reducing their overall variation in response times. This behavioral shift suggests microplastic pollution may make these crabs more vulnerable to predation in the wild.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.