We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Data and supporting code for Caddisfly research
AI summary Read the abstract
This is a dataset and analysis code for a study on caddisflies — aquatic insect larvae — as a pathway for breaking down plastic litter into microplastics in freshwater environments.
Data sets and analysis code used for the study: ' Benthic invertebrates are a pathway for plastic litter breakdown and microplastic creation in freshwater environments'
More Papers Like This
Microplastic Footprint in the Larval Cases of Caddisflies (Trichoptera) for Tracing the Sources of Microplastics in Freshwater Bodies
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny aquatic insects called caddisflies unknowingly build microplastics into the protective cases they make, with some cases containing as many as 18 plastic bits. Since these insects are a key food source for fish and other wildlife, this discovery means microplastics are already entering the freshwater food chain, raising concerns about how these pollutants could eventually work their way up to the fish and water humans consume. The findings also offer a clever new tool: studying caddisfly cases could help scientists track down where plastic pollution is coming from in lakes and rivers.
Caddisfly Larvae are a Driver of Plastic Litter Breakdown and Microplastic Formation in Freshwater Environments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that freshwater caddisfly larvae actively incorporate polylactic acid plastic film into their protective cases and rapidly fragment it into hundreds of microplastic particles, representing a previously unrecognized biological mechanism of microplastic formation in freshwater ecosystems.
High Density of Microplastics in the Caddisfly Larvae Cases
AI summary Read the abstract
High densities of microplastics were found embedded in the cases (shelters built from environmental debris) of caddisfly larvae, with plastics replacing natural materials like sand grains and plant fragments. This documents how widespread microplastic contamination has become in freshwater insect habitats and raises concerns about its effects on larval development.
Microplastics of different characteristics are incorporated into the larval cases of the freshwater caddisfly Lepidostoma basale
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that the freshwater caddisfly larva Lepidostoma basale actively incorporated microplastics of various sizes, shapes, and polymer types into its larval case alongside natural materials, representing a novel pathway of microplastic interaction beyond dietary ingestion in aquatic insects.
Diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera), water quality factors, and microplastics in a northern Thai stream
AI summary Read the abstract
Caddisfly (Trichoptera) diversity was examined in relation to water quality and microplastic presence, finding that plastic contamination correlates with shifts in caddisfly community composition. Because caddisflies are widely used as bioindicators of water quality, plastic pollution may compromise standard bioassessment methods.
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.