Back to papers
0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Remediation Sign in to save

Microplastics Affect the Ecological Functioning of an Important Biogenic Habitat

Environmental Science & Technology 2016 259 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Bas Boots, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Bas Boots, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Bas Boots, Nessa E. O’Connor, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Nessa E. O’Connor, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Richard C. Thompson Bas Boots, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson

Summary

Researchers tested how microplastics affect the ecological functioning of oyster and mussel habitats in outdoor mesocosms. The study found that both biodegradable and conventional microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations can alter filtration rates and nutrient cycling in these important biogenic habitats, suggesting broader ecosystem-level impacts.

Models
Invertebrate other
Study Type Environmental

Biological effects of microplastics on the health of bivalves have been demonstrated elsewhere, but ecological impacts on the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of bivalve-dominated habitats are unknown. Thus, we exposed intact sediment cores containing European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) or blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in seawater to two different densities (2.5 or 25 μg L<sup>-1</sup>) of biodegradable or conventional microplastics in outdoor mesocosms. We hypothesized that filtration rates of the bivalves, inorganic nitrogen cycling, primary productivity of sediment dwelling microphytobenthos, and the structure of invertebrate benthic assemblages would be influenced by microplastics. After 50 days, filtration by M. edulis was significantly less when exposed to 25 μg L<sup>-1</sup> of either type of microplastics, but there were no effects on ecosystem functioning or the associated invertebrate assemblages. Contrastingly, filtration by O. edulis significantly increased when exposed to 2.5 or 25 μg L<sup>-1</sup> of microplastics, and porewater ammonium and biomass of benthic cyanobacteria decreased. Additionally the associated infaunal invertebrate assemblages differed, with significantly less polychaetes and more oligochaetes in treatments exposed to microplastics. These findings highlight the potential of microplastics to impact the functioning and structure of sedimentary habitats and show that such effects may depend on the dominant bivalve present.

Read via DOI PubMed

Sign in to start a discussion.

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email