Microplastics in Freshwater Sediments Impact the Role of a Main Bioturbator in Ecosystem Functioning
Environmental Science & Technology2023
54 citations
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Score: 60
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Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Mohammad Wazne,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Mohammad Wazne,
Mohammad Wazne,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Laurent Simon,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Manon Vallier,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Manon Vallier,
Stefan Krause,
Manon Vallier,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Stefan Krause,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Stefan Krause,
Frédéric Hervant,
Manon Vallier,
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Manon Vallier,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Laurent Simon,
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Frédéric Hervant,
Adeline Dumet,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Laurent Simon,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Laurent Simon,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Manon Vallier,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Manon Vallier,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Anna Kukkola,
Anna Kukkola,
Laurent Simon,
Laurent Simon,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Stefan Krause,
Mohammad Wazne,
Stefan Krause,
Laurent Simon,
Stefan Krause,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Anna Kukkola,
Mohammad Wazne,
Anna Kukkola,
Stefan Krause,
Laurent Simon,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Laurent Simon,
Florian Mermillod‐Blondin,
Stefan Krause,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Anna Kukkola,
Holly Nel
Summary
This study investigated how microplastics in freshwater sediments affect Tubifex worms, which are important bioturbators that mix and aerate sediment. Researchers found that microplastic contamination altered the worms' burrowing behavior and disrupted biogeochemical processes at the sediment-water interface. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution could impair fundamental ecosystem functions by affecting the organisms that maintain healthy sediment environments.
Study Type
Environmental
While microplastic transport, fate, and effects have been a focus of studies globally, the consequences of their presence on ecosystem functioning have not received the same attention. With increasing evidence of the accumulation of microplastics at sediment-water interfaces there is a need to assess their impacts on ecosystem engineers, also known as bioturbators, which have direct and indirect effects on ecosystem health. This study investigated the impact of microplastics on the bioturbator <i>Tubifex tubifex</i> alongside any effects on the biogeochemical processes at the sediment-water interface. Bioturbators were exposed to four sediment microplastic concentrations: 0, 700, 7000, and 70000 particles kg<sup>-1</sup> sediment dry weight. Though no mortality was present, a significant response to oxidative stress was detected in <i>tubificid</i> worms after exposure to medium microplastic concentration (7000 particles kg<sup>-1</sup> sediment dry weight). This was accompanied by a reduction in worm bioturbation activities assessed by their ability to rework sediment and to stimulate exchange water fluxes at the sediment-water interface. Consequently, the contributions of tubificid worms on organic matter mineralization and nutrient fluxes were significantly reduced in the presence of microplastics. This study demonstrated that environmentally realistic microplastic concentrations had an impact on biogeochemical processes at the sediment-water interface by reducing the bioturbation activities of tubificid worms.