We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Combined effect of polyethylene microplastics and Microcystis aeruginosa spent medium on Daphnia magna
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined polyethylene microplastics with metabolites from the harmful cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in Daphnia magna exposures, finding that the combination increased microplastic ingestion sixfold and suppressed antioxidant responses, leading to higher mortality and lower reproduction during recovery compared to microplastic exposure alone.
The concomitant occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and toxic cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems is predicted to exacerbate toxicity to aquatic organisms, terrestrial animals and humans. We investigated the combined effects of naturally released extracellular metabolites from Microcystis aeruginosa, a harmful bloom-forming cyanobacterium and polyethylene (PE) MPs by first conducting a 48-h acute toxicity test, followed by an assessment of the recovery capacity of the test organism over 21 days. Immobilization in the combined MP + SM exposure reached 36.7% and 46.7% at 25 and 50 mg L⁻¹, respectively, which was approximately 2.2-fold and 1.7-fold higher than in the corresponding MP-alone treatments (16.7% and 26.7%), (p > 0.05). During the recovery period (21-d), a 50% higher mortality rate and reduced reproduction under combined treatment were observed compared to single treatment (p > 0.05). Subsequently, the oxidative stress response and the uptake of MPs in Daphnia magna were analyzed. The production of antioxidative materials was induced under single treatment, but it was not induced under combined treatment. The ingestion of MP particles by D. magna reached a six-fold increase in the combination treatment compared to the treatment with MPs alone (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that short-term (48-h) combined exposure can enhance MP ingestion, which may hinder recovery and ultimately lead to reduced reproduction and increased mortality of D. magna. The results of this study provide valuable insight into the management of aquatic systems regarding the ecotoxicological risk of MPs and harmful algal blooms.
More Papers Like This
Antibiotic and microplastic co-exposure: Effects on Daphnia magna and implications for ecological risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research on how antibiotics and microplastics, both common pollutants in lakes and rivers, affect tiny water creatures called Daphnia, which are important indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. The key takeaway: when these two pollutants combine, they appear to cause more harm together than either does alone, suggesting our current safety assessments (which typically test pollutants one at a time) may be underestimating real-world risks. While this study focused on aquatic life rather than humans directly, it matters because these same waterways often feed into our drinking water and food supply, so better understanding combined pollutant effects could help protect
Chronic and Acute Water-Soluble Microplastics Uptake and Effects on Growth and Reproduction of Daphnia magna
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that two water-soluble microplastics — polyvinyl alcohol and polymethacrylic acid — harm the water flea Daphnia magna, reducing lifespan, reproduction, and causing physical deformities, raising concerns about these less-studied plastic types that dissolve in water rather than forming visible particles.
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.