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Fish larvae feeding on microplastic particles display altered behavior

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Larval perch exposed to polystyrene microplastics showed stunted growth and altered feeding behavior, choosing microplastic particles over natural prey. These findings from Uppsala University researchers were among the first to demonstrate that microplastic exposure can change the behavior and development of larval fish, with implications for fish population survival.

It is known that plastic waste has an adverse impact on marine life. But for the first time, researchers from Uppsala University have shown that microplastic particles i.e. plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in size change the behavior and development of larval fish. The researchers exposed larval perch to microplastic particles and discovered that their growth got stunted. Read more about their research here.

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