We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Rapid fragmentation of microplastics by the freshwater amphipod Gammarus duebeni (Lillj.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that the freshwater amphipod Gammarus duebeni can rapidly break down polyethylene microplastics into smaller fragments, including nanoplastics, during its feeding process. The fragmentation was closely linked to feeding behavior, with more and smaller fragments produced when food was present during depuration. The study highlights that aquatic organisms may play a previously underestimated role in determining the environmental fate of microplastics by accelerating their breakdown into even smaller particles.
Microplastics have become ubiquitous in all environments. Yet, their environmental fate is still largely unknown. Plastic fragmentation is a key component of plastic degradation, which is mostly caused by abiotic processes over prolonged time scales. Here, it is shown that the freshwater amphipod Gammarus duebeni can rapidly fragment polyethylene microplastics, resulting in the formation of differently shaped and sized plastic fragments, including nanoplastics. Fragments comprised 65.7% of all observed microplastic particles accumulated in digestive tracts. Higher numbers of fragments were found in response to longer exposure times and/or higher microplastic concentrations. Furthermore, the proportion of smaller plastic fragments was highest when food was present during the depuration process. It is concluded that G. duebeni can rapidly fragment polyethylene microplastics and that this is closely associated with the feeding process. These results highlight the crucial role, currently understudied, that biota may play in determining the fate of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.
More Papers Like This
Exposure of the amphipod Hyalella azteca to microplastics. A study on subtoxic responses and particle biofragmentation
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed freshwater amphipods (Hyalella azteca) to polystyrene microplastics and observed subtle but measurable effects on the animals' behavior and biology even at concentrations below those causing visible harm. Importantly, the amphipods physically broke down the microplastics into much smaller fragments through ingestion and digestion. The study highlights that animals in the environment may be actively generating nanoplastics from microplastics, accelerating the fragmentation of plastic pollution.
Ingestion and fragmentation of plastic carrier bags by the amphipod Orchestia gammarellus: Effects of plastic type and fouling load
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that the amphipod Orchestia gammarellus can ingest and physically fragment plastic carrier bags, with gut transit further modifying the debris, demonstrating that detritivores may contribute to secondary microplastic generation in marine habitats.
Microplastic fragmentation by rotifers in aquatic ecosystems contributes to global nanoplastic pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists discovered that rotifers, tiny zooplankton found in water bodies worldwide, grind microplastics into nanoplastics during feeding, generating over 34,000 submicron particles per animal per day. Both marine and freshwater rotifers could fragment multiple plastic types, including polyethylene and polystyrene. This finding reveals a previously unknown biological pathway that is constantly converting microplastics into even smaller and potentially more dangerous nanoplastics in water systems globally.
Turning microplastics into nanoplastics through digestive fragmentation by Antarctic krill
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed Antarctic krill large microplastic particles and found the krill ground them into nanoplastics through digestive fragmentation, revealing that marine organisms can act as biological mechanisms for converting microplastics into potentially more hazardous nanoplastic-sized particles.
Microplastics affect assimilation efficiency in the freshwater amphipod Gammarus fossarum
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how two types of microplastics affect the freshwater amphipod Gammarus fossarum. The study found that microplastic exposure reduced assimilation efficiency in these invertebrates, indicating that microplastic ingestion can interfere with nutrient uptake and energy processing in freshwater organisms.
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.