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
Summary
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'
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Caddisfly Larvae are a Driver of Plastic Litter Breakdown and Microplastic Formation in Freshwater Environments
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
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
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
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.
PVC and PET microplastics in caddisfly (Lepidostoma basale) cases reduce case stability
Caddisfly larvae (Lepidostoma basale) incorporated PVC and PET microplastics into their protective cases in the laboratory, and increasing plastic content made the cases less structurally stable than cases built from sand. Weaker cases could impair the larvae's protection from predators and their ability to resist stream currents.