We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Feeding of Marine Zooplankton on Microplastic Fibers
Summary
Researchers examined the effects of nylon microfibers on feeding rates of calanoid copepods (Eucalanus pileatus) and doliolids (Dolioletta gegenbauri) at near-environmental concentrations alongside diatoms, finding that fiber ingestion occurred and microplastics were incorporated into fecal pellets, potentially affecting zooplankton nutrition and energy transfer in marine food webs.
The goal of our study was to examine the effects of low abundances of nylon fibers on feeding rates of calanoid copepods (Crustacea, Copepoda) and doliolids (Tunicata, Thaliacea) in the presence of diatoms at near environmental concentration levels. In addition, we examined microscopically the fecal pellets produced by copepods and doliolids in the presence of fibers. Adult females of the calanoid Eucalanus pileatus and early gonozooids of Dolioletta gegenbauri (both of similar dry weight) cleared the diatom Rhizosolenia alata at similar rates. Nylon fibers were cleared at higher rates by Dolioletta gegenbauri compared to Eucalanus pileatus. Examination of fecal pellets revealed that copepods and doliolids could ingest the about 300 µm long fibers. The latter also ingested the occasionally occurring fibers of > 1 mm length. It appears that in seawater fiber abundances of about seven fibers ml did not have a negative effect on feeding of either E. pileatus or D. gegenbauri. As doliolids and copepods remove plastic fibers from seawater by packing them into their pellets, they might play a role in the reduction of microplastic pollution and the microplastic transfer from the water column to the seafloor. Calanoid copepods may limit ingesting fibers by not perceiving them, as compared to doliolids which do not seem to be able to avoid ingesting them.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Is Zooplankton an Entry Point of Microplastics into the Marine Food Web?
Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in natural marine environments, examining whether copepods and other zooplankton serve as an entry point for transferring microplastics from the water column into the marine food web.
Investigating Microplastic Ingestion by Zooplankton
This thesis investigated microplastic ingestion by four species of marine zooplankton, finding that the copepod Centropages typicus ingested nylon powder, polyethylene microbeads, and synthetic rope fibers. Exposure to microplastics caused an energy deficit in most species by displacing nutritious food, potentially reducing the energy available for zooplankton growth and reproduction with knock-on effects up the food chain.
Microplastics in the menu of Mediterranean zooplankton: Insights from the feeding response of the calanoid copepod Centropages typicus
Researchers investigated how the Mediterranean copepod Centropages typicus responds to microplastics, finding that these zooplankton ingest plastic particles whose size overlaps with their natural nano-microplankton prey, potentially threatening marine food web functioning.
The Behavior of Planktonic Copepods Minimizes the Entry of Microplastics in Marine Food Webs
Researchers found that planktonic copepods across all major feeding behaviors ingested microplastics at rates up to ten times lower than similar-sized microalgae, suggesting that copepod feeding strategies naturally limit the entry of microplastics into marine food webs.
Effects of Nylon Microplastic on Feeding, Lipid Accumulation, and Moulting in a Coldwater Copepod
Researchers exposed the coldwater copepod Calanus finmarchicus to nylon microplastic granules and fibers at environmentally relevant concentrations and measured effects on feeding, lipid accumulation, and development. They found that while microplastic ingestion did not cause acute toxicity, it reduced algal feeding rates and altered lipid storage patterns. The findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could impair the energy reserves these copepods need for overwintering and reproduction.