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Single and combined effects of microplastics, pyrethroid and food resources on the life-history traits and microbiome of Chironomus riparius
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Researchers exposed Chironomus riparius larvae to microplastics alone and combined with a pyrethroid pesticide under varying food conditions, finding that combined stress altered life-history traits and shifted the gut microbiome composition, with food availability modulating the severity of effects.
There is growing evidence of widespread contamination of freshwater ecosystems with microplastics. However, the effects of chronic microplastic ingestion and its interaction with other pollutants and stress factors on the life-history traits and the host-microbiome of aquatic invertebrates are not well understood. This study investigates the effects of exposure to sediment spiked with 1 μm polystyrene-based latex microplastic spheres, an environmentally realistic concentration of a pyrethroid pesticide (esfenvalerate), and a combination of both treatments on the life-history traits of the benthic-dwelling invertebrate, Chironomus riparius and its microbial community. The chironomid larvae were also exposed to two food conditions: abundant or limited food in the sediment, monitored for 28 and 34 days respectively. The microplastics and esfenvalerate had negative effects on adult emergence and survival, and these effects differed between the food level treatments. The microbiome diversity was negatively affected by the exposure to microplastics, while the relative abundances of the four top phyla were significantly affected only in the high food level treatment. Although the combined exposure to microplastics and esfenvalerate showed some negative effects on survival and emergence, there was little evidence for synergistic effects when compared to the single exposure. The food level affected all life-history traits and the microbiota, and lower food levels intensified the negative effects of the exposure to microplastics, esfenvalerate and their combination. We argue that these pollutants can affect crucial life-history traits such as successful metamorphosis and the host-microbiome. Therefore, it should be taken into consideration for toxicological assessment of pollutant acceptability. Our study highlights the importance of investigating possible additive and synergic activities between stressors to understand the effects of pollutants in the life story traits and host-microbiome.
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Combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and natural stressors on Chironomus riparius life-history traits
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Researchers examined combined effects of polyethylene microplastics with temperature, salinity, and food stress on the midge Chironomus riparius, finding that microplastic effects on life-history traits were modulated by these natural stressors in ways not predicted by simple additive models.
Combined effects of microplastics and a pyrethroid on the benthic invertebrate, Chironomus Riparius
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This freshwater study examined combined effects of microplastics and a pyrethroid pesticide on midge larvae (Chironomus riparius), contributing to growing evidence that microplastics in freshwater ecosystems interact with chemical pollutants to produce compounded harmful effects on invertebrates.
Multi stress system: Microplastics in freshwater and their effects on host microbiota
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This study examined how combined exposure to microplastics and organic chemical pollutants affects freshwater organisms through a multi-stress approach, focusing on gut microbiome changes as an indicator. Microplastic exposure in combination with other pollutants altered microbiome composition more than either stressor alone, with potential consequences for host fitness and disease resistance.
Suborganismal responses of the aquatic midge Chironomus riparius to polyethylene microplastics
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Researchers exposed Chironomus riparius larvae to polyethylene microplastics and used transcriptomics and metabolomics to characterize suborganismal responses, finding disruption of oxidative stress pathways, energy metabolism, and cuticle synthesis — effects not captured by standard life-history endpoints alone.
Ingestion of microplastics by the chironomid Chironomus sancticaroli and effects on the microbiome in the presence of PBDEs
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Researchers exposed the freshwater midge larva Chironomus sancticaroli to microplastics contaminated with flame-retardant PBDEs, finding that the organisms ingested microplastics and experienced effects including altered behavior and increased pollutant body burden — demonstrating that microplastics can serve as vectors for toxic chemical transfer to aquatic invertebrates.
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