We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biogenic Aggregation of Small Microplastics Alters Their Ingestion by a Common Freshwater Micro-Invertebrate
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that when small microplastics become incorporated into biogenic aggregates formed by aquatic organisms, they are more readily ingested by freshwater filter-feeding invertebrates than individual plastic particles alone. This mechanism suggests that microplastic uptake by freshwater zooplankton may be underestimated when biological aggregation is not accounted for.
In recent years, increasing concerns have been raised about the environmental risk of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. Small microplastics enter the water either directly or accumulate through disintegration of larger plastic particles. These particles might then be ingested by filter-feeding zooplankton, such as rotifers. Particles released into the water may also interact with the biota through the formation of aggregates, which might alter the uptake by zooplankton. In this study, we tested for size-specific aggregation of polystyrene microspheres and their ingestion by a common freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus . The ingestion of three sizes of polystyrene microspheres (MS) 1-, 3-, and 6-μm was investigated. Each MS size was tested in combination with three different treatments: MS as the sole food intake, MS in association with food algae and MS aggregated with biogenic matter. After 72 h incubation in pre-filtered natural river water, the majority of the 1-μm spheres occurred as aggregates. The larger the particles, the higher the relative number of single particles and the larger the aggregates. All particles were ingested by the rotifer following a Type-II functional response. The presence of algae did not influence the ingestion of the MS for all three sizes. The biogenic aggregation of microspheres led to a significant size-dependent alteration in their ingestion. Rotifers ingested more microspheres (MS) when exposed to aggregated 1- and 3-μm MS as compared to single spheres, whereas fewer aggregated 6-μm spheres were ingested. This indicates that the small particles when aggregated were in an effective size range for Brachionus , while the aggregated larger spheres became too large to be efficiently ingested. These observations provide the first evidence of a size- and aggregation-dependent feeding interaction between microplastics and rotifers. Microplastics when aggregated with biogenic particles in a natural environment can rapidly change their size-dependent availability. The aggregation properties of microplastics should be taken into account when performing experiments mimicking the natural environment.
More Papers Like This
Aggregation of microplastics with marine biogenic particles
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments investigated whether microplastics interact with and aggregate into biogenic marine particles such as phytoplankton, finding that polystyrene microplastics can associate with biological aggregates in the water column. This aggregation process may accelerate microplastic sinking and alter their transport to deeper ocean layers.
Microplastic loads within riverine fishes and macroinvertebrates are not predictable from ecological or morphological characteristics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic loads in riverine fish and macroinvertebrates and found that particle counts were not reliably predicted by species ecology or morphology, suggesting that individual variation and local environmental factors play a larger role in microplastic ingestion than feeding guild or habitat alone.
A review of microplastics aggregation in aquatic environment: Influence factors, analytical methods, and environmental implications
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics clump together in aquatic environments, a behavior called aggregation that affects where they end up and how available they are to organisms. Researchers evaluated the factors that influence aggregation, including water chemistry, particle size, and the presence of natural organic matter. The study identifies important gaps in field research and calls for standardized methods to better understand how aggregation shapes the environmental fate of microplastics.
Aquatic Aggregates as “Vector” for Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics interact with aquatic aggregates — clumps of organic matter, clay, and other particles formed through flocculation in natural waters. Aggregation affects microplastic transport by changing their effective density and size, influencing whether they sink, float, or remain suspended. Understanding these interactions is key to accurately predicting where microplastics end up in aquatic environments.
Feeding type and development drive the ingestion of microplastics by freshwater invertebrates
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed freshwater invertebrates with different feeding strategies to fluorescent polystyrene microplastics of various sizes and found that all species ingested particles in a concentration-dependent manner. Filter feeders like Daphnia magna consumed the most particles, while feeding type and developmental stage strongly influenced ingestion rates. The study suggests that feeding strategy is a key predictor of microplastic uptake in freshwater food webs, and that younger organisms may be more vulnerable.
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.