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Microplastics can aggravate the impact of ocean acidification on the health of mussels: Insights from physiological performance, immunity and byssus properties
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Researchers found that the combination of ocean acidification and microplastic exposure weakened mussel immune systems, reduced feeding performance, and degraded the quality of byssus threads used for attachment. The study suggests that co-occurring ocean acidification and microplastic pollution could increase the vulnerability of bivalves to disease and dislodgement, threatening their survival in future marine environments.
Ocean acidification may increase the risk of disease outbreaks that would challenge the future persistence of marine organisms if their immune system and capacity to produce vital structures for survival (e.g., byssus threads produced by bivalves) are compromised by acidified seawater. These potential adverse effects may be exacerbated by microplastic pollution, which is forecast to co-occur with ocean acidification in the future. Thus, we evaluated the impact of ocean acidification and microplastics on the health of a mussel species (Mytilus coruscus) by assessing its physiological performance, immunity and byssus properties. We found that ocean acidification and microplastics not only reduced hemocyte concentration and viability due to elevated oxidative stress, but also undermined phagocytic activity of hemocytes due to lowered energy budget of mussels, which was in turn caused by the reduced feeding performance and energy assimilation. Byssus quality (strength and extensibility) and production were also reduced by ocean acidification and microplastics. To increase the chance of survival with these stressors, the mussels prioritized the synthesis of some byssus proteins (Mfp-4 and Mfp-5) to help maintain adhesion to substrata. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that co-occurrence of ocean acidification and microplastic pollution would increase the susceptibility of bivalves to infectious diseases and dislodgement risk, thereby threatening their survival and undermining their ecological contributions to the community.
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Synthesized effects of medium-term exposure to seawater acidification and microplastics on the physiology and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus
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Researchers found that combined exposure to ocean acidification and microplastics significantly reduced the feeding rate, food absorption, and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus, with acidification amplifying the negative effects of microplastics.
Anti-predatory responses of Mytilus coruscus to the combined effects of ocean acidification and microplastics
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Mussels use sticky protein threads (called byssus) to anchor themselves and defend against predators, but this study found that ocean acidification, driven by rising CO2 levels, weakens this defense system, while microplastic pollution alone doesn't do much damage. The real concern is that when acidification and microplastics combine, they team up to make mussels more vulnerable to predators, which could disrupt coastal food webs and shellfish populations that many communities rely on for food. This matters for human health because it's a warning sign that pollution and climate stressors can interact in unexpected ways, potentially threatening the seafood supply chain we depend
Ocean acidification and nanoplastics disrupt mussel calcification in synergy: A multi-omics analysis
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Mussels exposed to more acidic seawater (from ocean acidification) and tiny plastic particles struggled to repair their shells properly, growing thinner, weaker shells with less calcium, and the problem got worse when both stressors combined. This matters because mussels and other shellfish are a major food source worldwide, and as oceans absorb more CO2 and plastic pollution while these tiny particles work their way into seafood, this research suggests the combination could hurt the quality and availability of the shellfish we eat.
Microplastics impair digestive performance but show little effects on antioxidant activity in mussels under low pH conditions
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Researchers exposed thick shell mussels to polystyrene microplastics under both normal and acidified ocean conditions. They found that microplastics had little effect on antioxidant defenses but significantly impaired digestive enzyme activity, with ocean acidification worsening the impact. The study suggests that the combined stress of microplastics and lower pH may pose particular risks to the digestive function of marine shellfish.
Ocean acidification enhances microplastic uptake and alters physiological responses in Manila clams
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Researchers found that ocean acidification (pH 7.6) impaired particle selection in Manila clams, leading to greater microplastic retention in the digestive tract, while filtration and respiration rates were maintained at higher levels under acidified conditions, suggesting suppressed stress responses and a synergistic interaction between ocean acidification and microplastic pollution.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.