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Microplastic adhering to marine invertebrates - first observations and discussion of potential effects
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During a biodiversity survey, marine invertebrates from a British estuary were found with blue microplastic granules firmly attached to their body surfaces — a first observation of plastic adhering externally to marine animals, raising questions about potential effects on feeding, respiration, and osmoregulation.
During a recent biodiversity study marine invertebrates were found with blue microplastic granules attached to their body surface. The animals originated from subtidal samples collected in a British estuary. In nearly half of the samples animals with blue granules were present. The granules were regularly distributed on the body surface and firmly attached, but not all specimens of the same species were affected. If present in a sample, granules were usually found on oligochaetes, but also on other animals (eg. crustaceans or polychaetes). Most studies on the immediate effects of microplastic on marine invertebrates focus on ingestion of particles (uptake of sediment containing plastic or via gills and subsequent endocytosis; see review by Duis & Coors 2016). The adherence of microplastic to the body and the related threats are not well understood. Potential physical damage as well as altered behaviour, such as reduced ability to move (oligochaetes) or swim (amphipod shrimps), are other effects worth investigating. In the course of routine biodiversity assessments, affected animals could easily be extracted to allow for further studies such as nature of microplastics or to monitor changes in their presence after a ban of microbeads is introduced for example in cosmetics.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic adhering to marine invertebrates - first observations and discussion of potential effects
AI summary Read the abstract
During a biodiversity survey of a British estuary, marine invertebrates were found with blue microplastic granules adhering firmly to their body surfaces, representing one of the first observations of microplastics externally attached to benthic animals rather than ingested. The study raises new questions about the pathways and impacts of microplastic exposure for bottom-dwelling organisms.
Beyond ingestion: Adhesion of microplastics to aquatic organisms
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Researchers reviewed evidence that microplastics interact with aquatic organisms not only through ingestion but also through bioadhesion, where particles stick to the external surfaces of organisms. The study found that microplastic adhesion occurs across diverse species including macrophytes, invertebrates, and vertebrates, suggesting that external adhesion is an underappreciated but important pathway of microplastic exposure in aquatic environments.
Microplastics in the Delaware Bay: distribution and direct effects on major zooplankton
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Researchers mapped microplastic distribution in the Delaware Bay estuary and tested how these particles affect key zooplankton species. They found microplastics throughout the bay, with higher concentrations near urban areas, and that exposure reduced feeding rates and survival in copepods and barnacle larvae. The study provides some of the first data on microplastic pollution in mid-Atlantic estuaries and its direct effects on the base of the food web.
Ingestion and adherence of microplastics by estuarine mysid shrimp
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Researchers investigated how estuarine mysid shrimp ingest and accumulate microplastics both internally and on their external body surfaces. The study found microplastics in the shrimp's bodies and fecal pellets, and feeding experiments revealed that these organisms readily consume plastic particles, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through marine food webs.
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This review synthesizes experimental studies on microplastic ingestion and effects across a wide range of marine organisms, finding evidence of physical harm, reproductive effects, and reduced feeding in multiple taxa. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the biological consequences of microplastic ingestion and identifies key knowledge gaps for future research.
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