We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impacts of microplastic vs. natural abiotic particles on the clearance rate of a marine mussel
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments compared how mussels responded to microplastics versus natural abiotic particles (sediment, sand) in terms of clearance rate, finding that mussels reduced their filtration activity when exposed to microplastics but not natural particles. This selective behavioral response suggests that microplastics may interfere with the normal filter-feeding of mussels in ways that natural particles do not.
Abstract In coastal habitats, mussels are exposed to microplastics (MP; plastic 0.1 μ m–5 mm) and silt, two abiotic particles that are similarly sized and lack nutrition. The addition of MP or silt may change the functional response of mussels. We measured clearance rate (CR) of Mytilus trossulus in three particle treatments (algae, MP + algae, and silt + algae) across four concentrations to (1) determine if the effects of MP and silt are similar and (2) disentangle the effects of particle type, particle concentration, and proportion of abiotic particles. CR decreased by 62% at high MP concentrations (> 1250 particles mL −1 ) but was not affected at equivalent silt concentrations. These findings suggest high MP concentrations inhibit mussel CR, more than expected by changes in particle concentration or the proportion of abiotic particles. As plastic production increases, mussel exposure to MP will increase, potentially reducing energy transfer, benthic‐pelagic coupling, and water clarity.
More Papers Like This
Selective Ingestion and Egestion of Plastic Particles by the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) and Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica): Implications for Using Bivalves as Bioindicators of Microplastic Pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
Blue mussels and eastern oysters were found to selectively ingest and egest microplastic particles based on size and composition, with both species showing preferences that differed from random ingestion. The selective behavior affects how reliably these bivalves can be used as bioindicators of microplastic pollution, since their gut contents may not proportionally reflect ambient plastic concentrations.
Microplastics, both non-biodegradable and biodegradable, do not affect the whole organism functioning of a marine mussel
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed marine mussels to both conventional and biodegradable microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations and measured whole-organism physiological responses including respiration, feeding, and energy balance. They found that neither type of microplastic significantly affected the mussels' overall functioning at these concentrations. The study suggests that while microplastic ingestion does occur, the biological impacts on filter-feeding organisms may be limited at the pollution levels currently found in natural ecosystems.
The Effect of Exposure to Microplastic Particles on Baltic Sea Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Filtration Rate
AI summary Read the abstract
Baltic Sea blue mussels were exposed to 1,000 microbeads per liter for six days, and the study found no significant difference in filtration rate compared to unexposed mussels. While this single concentration did not impair feeding, the study provides early baseline data on mussel responses to microplastic exposure.
Plastic and natural inorganic microparticles do not differ in their effects on adult mussels (Mytilidae) from different geographic regions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared the effects of plastic microparticles and natural inorganic particles on mussels from five geographic regions, finding no significant differences between particle types, suggesting that physical particle stress rather than plastic-specific chemistry drives observed effects.
Determining the Properties that Govern Selective Ingestion and Egestion of Microplastics by the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) and Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how particle properties govern selective ingestion and egestion of microplastics by blue mussels and eastern oysters, finding that bivalves selectively process different microplastic types based on physicochemical characteristics and size.
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.