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Influence of microplastics on feeding and energy reserves of terrestrial isopods Porcellio scaber
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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.
The main focus of this research was microplastic, the small plastic particles less than than 5 mm in diameter. Microplastics can also be obtained directly in the form of fibers from washing, as particles from cosmetic products or as by-product of larger plastic parts. In our thesis we wanted to prove, that the current concentration of microplastics in the environment (compost heap) has an impact on terrestrial organisms, in this case terrestrial isopod crustaceans, Porcelio scaber. We hypothesised, that microplastics would have an impact on feeding, as it acumulates in the gut. We also anticipated that this would reflect in altered digestive gland (hepatopancreas) energy reserves in terms of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. Animals were exposed to food, contaminated with microplastics and maintained properly in Petri dish. Exposure lasted 14 days under standard laboratory conditions. We used environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics in compost heap (4 mg microplastics/g dry food). We tested three types of plastics: isolated from the cosmetic product in two different fractions and isolated from PVC bags. Analysis showed that the tested concentrations of microplastics had no effect on feeding and energy reserves after 14 days of exposure. We suggest further research with larger concentrations of microplastics and prolonged exposure times.
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Response of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber to lipopolysaccharide challenge after microplastic and insecticide exposure
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Common soil bugs called isopods can chew larger plastic waste into microplastics, adding a hidden source of these tiny pollutants to soil, without it seeming to harm the bugs themselves. Since microplastics can move up the food chain into crops and animals we eat, this finding is a reminder that plastic litter breaking down in soil may be a bigger contributor to our environmental exposure than previously thought.
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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.
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