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Impact of Microplastic Fiber Pollution on Planorbella campanulata (Ramshorn Snail) Fecundity and Mortality
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This study tested the effects of plastic microfiber pollution on the reproduction and survival of Ramshorn snails in laboratory experiments. Microfibers shed from synthetic clothing during washing are among the most abundant microplastics in freshwater environments.
Plastic pollution in bodies of water is an emerging environmental issue. As research towards plastic microfiber pollution (synthetic fibers <5mm shed notably from clothing and>carpeting) continues to be explored, multiple effects on marine life have been discovered. This study is a continuation and expansion of a summer research project on the potential effects of plastic microfibers on the freshwater organism Planorbella campanulata (Ramshorn Snail). The snails were exposed to polyester microfibers for six weeks, the same amount of time as the previous study. The mortality of parent snails, along with the amount of eggs, egg sacs, and offspring was recorded. An effect of exposure to microplastics was found, with a higher rate of mortality in parent snails (T=2.120, n=11, p=0.012). A trend in more eggs being laid was also observed in snails exposed to microplastics. Our results suggest that microplastic pollution can have negative effects on freshwater organisms.
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Impact of Microplastic Fiber Pollution on Ramshorn Snail (Panorbella campanulata) Reproduction and Mortality
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Lab experiments exposed freshwater ramshorn snails to polyester microfibers and found significant increases in mortality and reduced reproduction compared to controls. The snails were particularly sensitive to microplastic fiber exposure, suggesting that freshwater mollusks are vulnerable to even low levels of microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.
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This 31-day study tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum, finding that even environmentally relevant concentrations reduced fertility in females. The results suggest microplastic pollution in freshwater environments can impair the reproductive success of small invertebrates at realistic exposure levels.
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Researchers exposed juvenile mussels to polyester and cotton microfibers at realistic ocean concentrations for 94 days and found that polyester microfibers reduced mussel growth rates by up to 36%, suggesting that microplastic fiber pollution could harm marine ecosystems and threaten shellfish aquaculture.
Transfer of microplastics from a freshwater mussel (Megalonaias nervosa) to a snail (Planorbella pilbsryi) raw data
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Scientists found that tiny plastic bits (microplastics) eaten by freshwater mussels don't just disappear—they get pooped out and then eaten by snails, showing how plastic pollution can move up the food chain from one creature to another. Interestingly, the type of plastic mattered a lot: microplastic fibers were more harmful to snail survival than tiny plastic beads, suggesting shape and size affect how dangerous these particles are, not just whether they're present. While this study focused on mussels and snails rather than humans, it's a reminder that microplastics in waterways can accumulate and pass between species, a process that ultim
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