We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics Can Inhibit the Mucus Production and Regenerative Capability of the Marine Polychaete Neanthes acuminata
Summary
Researchers investigated how microplastic exposure affects mucus production and regenerative capability of the marine polychaete Neanthes acuminata, a sediment-dwelling species critical to bioturbation and organic decomposition in marine ecosystems, finding significant impairment of these key physiological functions.
Marine sediments have been considered as bulk deposits of terrestrial and freshwater-originating plastics that support diverse invertebrate communities with crucial ecosystem functions. Despite ubiquitous distribution and essential function in the food web, knowledge of polychaetes’ physiological responses and functions under microplastic pollution scenarios is largely limited. Sediment-dwelling polychaete species Neanthes acuminata (i.e., Na) is crucial to the structure and function of marine ecosystems, particularly in bioturbation and organic decomposition. The present study investigated the impact of artificially aged and fragmented polyethylene microplastics (i.e., afPE-MPs) on growth, mucus production, and regenerative capability of Na. Our study demonstrates that afPE-MP does not directly affect the growth and survival of Na juveniles over 10 days. Instead, afPE-MP treatments could inhibit the growth pattern to a level that hinders mucus production. This study developed a regeneration assay for Na and reports for the first time that the presence of afPE-MP could adversely affect posterior regenerative capability at an environmentally relevant concentration of 0.1 g/L. The impact of afPE-MPs on physiological processes, including regeneration, could provide crucial information that would aid future researchers and policymakers in formulating aquatic conservation plans by prioritizing critically important habitats for the sustainability of ecosystem services.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics Can Inhibit the Mucus Production andRegenerative Capability of the Marine Polychaete Neanthesacuminata
Researchers investigated how microplastic exposure affects mucus production and regenerative capability in the marine polychaete Neanthes acuminata, a sediment-dwelling organism with critical ecosystem functions. They found that microplastics inhibited mucus secretion and reduced the worm's ability to regenerate tissue, demonstrating physiological impairment in an ecologically important invertebrate group.
Microplastics reduced posterior segment regeneration rate of the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis
Researchers exposed a commercially farmed polychaete worm to microplastics and found increased mortality and a significantly reduced rate of posterior segment regeneration. This suggests that microplastic contamination in coastal sediments may impair the regenerative capacity of economically and ecologically important marine worms.
Microplastics cause neurotoxicity and decline of enzymatic activities in important bioturbator Hediste diversicolor
Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused neurotoxicity and reduced enzymatic activity in the marine polychaete Hediste diversicolor, an important bioturbator, suggesting that microplastic pollution could impair critical ecological functions in coastal sediments.
Changes in particle mixing by benthic infauna induced by microplastics: implications for nitrogen cycling in marine sediments
Researchers found that increasing polypropylene microplastic concentrations impaired deep-burrowing behaviour of the marine worm Macroclymenella stewartensis but not the bivalve Macomona liliana, with microplastics also modifying interspecific relationships and thereby disrupting particle mixing and nutrient cycling processes in marine sediments.
Microplastics impair extracellular enzymatic activities and organic matter cycling in oligotrophic sandy marine sediments
Researchers investigated how microplastic contamination affects the breakdown of organic matter in sandy marine sediments. They found that microplastics significantly reduced the activity of key enzymes responsible for decomposing organic material, disrupting normal nutrient cycling processes. The study suggests that microplastic accumulation on the seafloor could impair the ecosystem services provided by benthic sediment communities.