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Investigating Microplastic Ingestion by Zooplankton
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This thesis investigated microplastic ingestion by four species of marine zooplankton, finding that the copepod Centropages typicus ingested nylon powder, polyethylene microbeads, and synthetic rope fibers. Exposure to microplastics caused an energy deficit in most species by displacing nutritious food, potentially reducing the energy available for zooplankton growth and reproduction with knock-on effects up the food chain.
Microplastic pollution is a ubiquitous threat in the marine environment. The ingestion of microscopic debris (<5 mm) by marine zooplankton is a phenomenon of high ecological concern. This thesis presents new information regarding the ingestion of microplastics by marine zooplankton. The calanoid copepod, Centropages typicus, abundant in North Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal waters was found to ingest Polyamide-6 Nylon powder (μ = 30 μm), Polyethylene microbeads (μ = 20 μm) and artificial rope fibres (μ = 14.76 μm) that had been labelled with RADGLO fluorescent powder (475 nm) in the presence and absence of natural prey. Feeding experiments were conducted upon four zooplankton species; Acartia tonsa, Porcellanid larvae, Calanus helgolandicus and Oithona similis. Exposure to microplastic particles resulted in an energy deficit in all species with the exception of O. similis when feeding upon a natural assemblage of algae for 24 hours, though this was only statistically significant for A. tonsa exposed to a mixture of 10 μm and 20 μm Polystyrene spheres (100 particles mL-1). Zooplankton displayed altered feeding behaviour. High-speed video analysis allowed for the mechanisms of microplastic detection, capture and subsequent rejection or ingestion to be observed. It was found that long-range chemodetection is unlikely to occur; rather cells are detected upon contact with setae. Individuals appear to reject microplastic particles in response to the physical properties of microplastic particles. These studies provide fundamental information on the ingestion and biological effects of microplastic debris upon zooplankton, knowledge of which is important given the key role that zooplankton play in the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels and, thus, ecosystem function. These findings provide pathways for further research and highlight the influence that feeding strategy and prey selectivity may have in determining the negative effects associated with microplastic uptake.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in the menu of Mediterranean zooplankton: Insights from the feeding response of the calanoid copepod Centropages typicus
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Researchers investigated how the Mediterranean copepod Centropages typicus responds to microplastics, finding that these zooplankton ingest plastic particles whose size overlaps with their natural nano-microplankton prey, potentially threatening marine food web functioning.
Bioavailability and ingestion of microplastic by zooplankton in the natural environment
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This study reviewed the bioavailability and ingestion of microplastics by marine zooplankton, which are particularly vulnerable because microplastic sizes overlap with their natural prey. Laboratory and field evidence shows zooplankton including copepods readily ingest microplastics, affecting energy budgets and potentially transferring particles up the food chain.
Feeding of Marine Zooplankton on Microplastic Fibers
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Researchers examined the effects of nylon microfibers on feeding rates of calanoid copepods (Eucalanus pileatus) and doliolids (Dolioletta gegenbauri) at near-environmental concentrations alongside diatoms, finding that fiber ingestion occurred and microplastics were incorporated into fecal pellets, potentially affecting zooplankton nutrition and energy transfer in marine food webs.
Is Zooplankton an Entry Point of Microplastics into the Marine Food Web?
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Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in natural marine environments, examining whether copepods and other zooplankton serve as an entry point for transferring microplastics from the water column into the marine food web.
Microplastic Ingestion by Zooplankton
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This study examined whether tiny marine animals called zooplankton can ingest microplastics, and researchers found that thirteen different zooplankton species consumed plastic beads of various sizes. The plastics also stuck to the animals' outer shells and significantly reduced their normal feeding on algae, suggesting that microplastic pollution could disrupt the base of the marine food web.
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