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The effect of plastic leachates on respiration and foraging behaviour in hermit crabs
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Researchers tested whether chemical leachates from plastic degradation affect respiration and foraging behavior in hermit crabs, finding that plastic leachates caused measurable behavioral changes. The results suggest that the chemicals dissolved from plastic particles pose direct behavioral risks to marine invertebrates beyond the physical effects of ingesting plastic particles.
Plastic production has soared since the 1950s, with the last decade seeing an increase of 43% from 250Mt (million tonnes) in 2009 to 368Mt in 2019. Plastics and their associated chemical congeners (variants of chemical structures) which enter the environment further exacerbate pollution within already contaminated ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the effect of plastic leachate on the common littoral marine hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus, a species at great risk from potential adverse effects of microplastics. The effects of plastic additives released into the environment via microplastic leaching, and of contaminants adsorbed and accumulated onto the surface of microplastics on marine organisms is understudied. This study sought to (I) investigate whether plastic leachate has an effect on the respiration rate of hermit crabs and, (II) investigate whether plastic leachate has an effect on the foraging behaviour of hermit crabs. We found that within repeated measures design hermit crabs exposed to plastic leachate had different levels of oxygen consumption when compared to their control; with there being an increase or decrease dependent on the leachate type. This is potentially problematic due to high concentrations of microplastics along coastlines which may lead to impaired filtration within crustaceans resulting in lethality and reduced food intake.
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Researchers tested whether microplastic exposure impairs shell selection in common European hermit crabs and found that crabs pre-exposed to microplastics were less likely to investigate and enter appropriate shells, suggesting microplastics can disrupt essential survival behaviors.
Microplastic leachates impair behavioural vigilance and predator avoidance in a temperate intertidal gastropod
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Researchers found that leachates from microplastics impaired chemical vigilance and predator avoidance behavior in an intertidal gastropod, demonstrating that microplastic chemical contamination can compromise anti-predator responses in marine invertebrates even without direct particle ingestion.
Microplastic exposure increases predictability of predator avoidance strategies in hermit crabs
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Researchers exposed European hermit crabs to microplastics and found the crabs became less cautious and more predictable in their predator-avoidance behavior, reducing their overall variation in response times. This behavioral shift suggests microplastic pollution may make these crabs more vulnerable to predation in the wild.
Does microplastic exposure and sex influence shell selection and motivation in the common European hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus?
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This study tested whether microplastic exposure influences shell selection behavior and motivational drive in hermit crabs, finding that MP-exposed crabs showed altered preferences for new shells. The results suggest that microplastic contamination may impair sensory or cognitive processes important for survival in hermit crabs.
Animal contests and microplastics: evidence of disrupted behaviour in hermit crabsPagurus bernhardus
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Researchers found that microplastic exposure disrupted shell-fighting contests in hermit crabs, impairing defenders' ability to assess opponents and reducing attackers' rapping strength, suggesting broader behavioral impacts on marine animals than previously recognized.
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.