We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastic bag and facial cleanser derived microplastic do not affect feeding behaviour and energy reserves of terrestrial isopods
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed terrestrial isopods microplastic particles derived from plastic bags and facial scrub beads for 14 days at realistic concentrations and detected no effects on feeding rate, food assimilation, body mass, survival, or energy reserves, suggesting that short-term microplastic exposure at these particle sizes is not acutely harmful to this common soil invertebrate.
Current data regarding the effects of microplastic (MP) on terrestrial organisms are very scarce. Isopods play an important role in plant litter decomposition processes and are commonly used test species in terrestrial ecotoxicity studies. Their altered feeding behaviour and energy reserves are established biomarkers of adverse effects upon stressor exposure. For this study we assessed the effects of MP derived from plastic bag film (mean size 183±93μm) and particles from a facial cleanser (mean size 137±51μm) on the terrestrial isopod, Porcellio scaber. Isopods were exposed to MP via feeding on food pellets (4mgg dry weight; 0.4% w w) for 14days under laboratory conditions. A control group was exposed to food pellets with no MP added. In line with previously suggested modes of MP action on animal ingestion, we assessed the food ingestion rate, defecation rate, food assimilation rate and efficiency, body mass change, mortality and energy reserves (proteins, carbohydrates, and triglycerides) in the digestive glands (hepatopancreas) of individual isopods. Contrary to our expectations, no effects on either end-point were observed under the given exposure conditions. Further work should be carried out to investigate the potential longer-term effects of such exposure. We conclude that 14days exposure to plastic bag and facial cleanser MP is not severely hazardous to isopods.
More Papers Like This
Influence of microplastics on feeding and energy reserves of terrestrial isopods Porcellio scaber
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed land-dwelling pill bugs to food contaminated with microplastics at concentrations found in compost heaps, and measured effects on feeding behavior and energy reserves in the digestive gland. The study investigated whether environmentally realistic microplastic levels in soil affect terrestrial invertebrates, which are important links in soil food webs.
Terrestrial Isopods Generate Microplastics from Low-Density Polyethylene Without Effects on Survival
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that terrestrial isopods physically fragmented low-density polyethylene plastic into microplastic particles during feeding and locomotion, without experiencing significant effects on survival. The results suggest that soil invertebrates may contribute to secondary microplastic generation in terrestrial ecosystems.
The influence of microplastics pollution on the feeding behavior of a prominent sandy beach amphipod, Orchestoidea tuberculata (Nicolet, 1849)
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic pollution was found to reduce feeding activity and slow growth in a beach amphipod (small crustacean), even at environmentally relevant concentrations. This suggests microplastics can disrupt energy balance and population health in small invertebrates that play important roles in sandy beach ecosystems.
No short-term response of microbial or isopod-driven litter decomposition to microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted controlled microcosm experiments testing whether microplastics at increasing concentrations affect microbially driven and isopod-driven decomposition of plant litter in soil over one month. Neither microorganism nor isopod decomposition rates were significantly altered by microplastic concentrations tested, suggesting that short-term litter breakdown may be more resilient to plastic contamination than other soil processes.
Raw data for: Terrestrial isopods as biotic generators of microplastics following chronic exposure to weathered low-density polyethylene
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed three isopod species to weathered polyethylene foam for 28 days and confirmed that all three mechanically fragment the plastic into microplastics through foraging, with particle size positively correlated to body size—establishing terrestrial detritivores as active generators of secondary microplastics in soil ecosystems.
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.