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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Environmental Contamination with Micro- and Nanoplastics Changes the Phototaxis of Euryhaline Zooplankton to Paired Photostimulation
ClearEarly Detection of Contamination with Microplastics by Changing the Phototaxis of Freshwater Mesozooplankton to Paired Photostimulation
Researchers used changes in phototaxis behavior of aquatic microorganisms as an early detection indicator for microplastic contamination, demonstrating that behavioral assays can provide sensitive, low-cost monitoring of plastic pollution in water.
Early Detection of Contamination with Microplastics by Changing the Phototaxis of Freshwater Mesozooplankton to Paired Photostimulation
Researchers used changes in phototaxis behavior — movement toward or away from light — in small aquatic organisms as an early detection signal for microplastic contamination, finding that exposure altered phototactic responses at sub-lethal concentrations. The behavioral endpoint proved more sensitive than conventional survival or reproduction endpoints, suggesting phototaxis as a useful indicator for early contamination detection.
Features of phototropic response of zooplankton to paired photostimulation under adverse environmental conditions
Researchers developed a paired photostimulation method — exposing zooplankton to two successive light pulses — that more reliably detects behavioral changes in Daphnia caused by pollutants including microplastics, outperforming single-stimulus methods and traditional survival-based bioindication for tracking aquatic toxicity.
Phototactic Behavioral Responses of Mesozooplankton in the Barents Sea as an Indicator of Anthropogenic Impact
Researchers deployed a submersible digital holographic camera in the Barents Sea to measure mesozooplankton phototactic responses as bioindicators of water quality, finding that natural environmental variability did not mask behavioral responses but anthropogenic salt disturbances produced detectable signals.
Phototropic Behavioral Responses of Zooplankton in Lake Baikal In Situ and during the Anthropogenic Impact Modeling
Researchers measured phototropic behavioral responses of Lake Baikal zooplankton in situ and during experimental anthropogenic impact modeling, finding that changes in behavior including risk-avoidance responses occurred at lower pollutant concentrations than survival or immobilization endpoints. Behavioral biomarkers are proposed as more sensitive early-warning indicators of environmental contamination than conventional toxicity tests.
Nanoplastics modulate the outcome of a zooplankton–microparasite interaction
Researchers found that nanoplastics can alter the outcome of zooplankton-microparasite interactions, demonstrating that plastic pollution at the nanoscale may disrupt host-parasite dynamics in freshwater ecosystems with cascading ecological effects.
The organism fate of inland freshwater system under micro-/nano-plastic pollution: A review of past decade.
This review synthesized a decade of research on how micro- and nano-plastics affect freshwater organisms including microalgae, macrophytes, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish, finding that impacts range from impaired photosynthesis and oxidative stress to reproductive disruption and behavioral changes across multiple biological levels.
Impact of plastic contaminants on marine ecosystems and advancement in the detection of micro/nano plastics: A review
This review summarizes how micro and nanoplastics harm marine life at every level of the food chain, from algae to fish, causing neurotoxicity, gut inflammation, and reproductive damage. The authors also review advances in detection technology, including sensors that can identify tiny plastic particles in water. Understanding how microplastics accumulate through marine food webs is critical because seafood is a major pathway for human microplastic exposure.
Microplastic intrusion into the zooplankton, the base of the marine food chain: Evidence from the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean
Microplastics were detected across diverse zooplankton groups in the Arabian Sea basin, with fiber-type particles most prevalent, demonstrating that microplastics have entered the base of the marine food chain in open ocean waters. The study establishes baseline contamination levels and highlights zooplankton as sentinels for microplastic pollution monitoring.
Nanoplastics and biota behaviour: Known effects, environmental relevance, and research needs
This review examined how nanoplastics affect the behavior of aquatic and terrestrial organisms, finding that behavioral endpoints are sensitive indicators of nanoplastic exposure but highlighting the need for more environmentally relevant concentrations and chronic exposure studies.
Responses to environmentally relevant microplastics are species-specific with dietary habit as a potential sensitivity indicator
Species-specific responses to environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations were assessed across multiple marine organisms within a functional group study. Results showed that responses differed substantially between species, indicating that single-species tests cannot reliably predict community-level effects of microplastic contamination.
Investigation of Anatomy of Zooplankton by DAPI, Nile Red and Phalloidin Staining
Researchers used fluorescent staining to study the body structures of four zooplankton species, and incidentally found Nile Red signals indicating microplastic particles inside some specimens — a secondary finding that supports the well-established pattern of zooplankton microplastic ingestion in marine environments. The primary focus of the paper is comparative zooplankton anatomy and phototaxis behavior, not microplastic contamination.
Nanoplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Impact, Toxicity, Detection, and Remediation Strategies
This review synthesizes current knowledge on nanoplastics in freshwater and marine environments, covering their transformation through photodegradation and biodegradation, ecotoxicological impacts including oxidative stress and reproductive effects in aquatic organisms, and available remediation strategies.
Screening for microplastic particles in plankton samples: How to integrate marine litter assessment into existing monitoring programs?
Researchers monitored microplastic abundance in zooplankton net samples, finding 100–10,000 particles per cubic meter with no consistent seasonal or depth pattern. The study proposes that existing zooplankton monitoring programs could be adapted to simultaneously track microplastic pollution at relatively low additional cost.
Quantification of Very Low Concentrations of Colloids with Light Scattering Applied to Micro(Nano)Plastics in Seawater
Researchers evaluated static and dynamic light scattering techniques for detecting and quantifying colloidal microplastic and nanoplastic particles (0.1-0.8 micron diameter) at very low concentrations in marine water, demonstrating their potential as rapid, non-destructive monitoring tools.
Microplastics do not affect standard ecotoxicological endpoints in marine unicellular organisms
Bacteria and marine diatoms were exposed to polyethylene microplastics of 1–500 μm at concentrations above environmental levels, finding no acute toxicity on bioluminescence inhibition or algal growth by standard ISO endpoints. The results suggest that standard ecotoxicological endpoints are insufficiently sensitive to detect microplastic effects on marine microbial primary producers and decomposers.
Biological indicators to check water quality in plastic-heavy water bodies
This review examines the use of biological indicators for monitoring water quality in environments heavily contaminated with plastics and heavy metals, summarizing recent advances in bioindicator approaches for tracking pollution trends and environmental health effects in plastic-polluted water bodies.
A New Method for Microplastics Identification in Copepods
Researchers developed and validated methods to identify small microplastics (under 10 micrometers) in the copepod Eurytemora affinis using epifluorescence microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy. The study used labeled polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon particles to calibrate the detection methods. Improved identification of small microplastics in zooplankton is important for understanding plastic entry into marine food webs.
Zooplankton as a suitable tool for microplastic research
The study suggests that zooplankton can serve as a useful proxy for assessing the presence of microplastic particles in ocean waters, since these organisms ingest plastic particles both intentionally and accidentally. Researchers highlight the advantages of using zooplankton in laboratory studies and emphasize the need for reliable methodologies, especially for detecting smaller microplastic fractions under 100 micrometers.
Assessing Microplastic Contamination in Zooplanktonic Organisms from Two River Estuaries
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in zooplankton sampled from two river estuaries, finding microplastics in a significant proportion of individual organisms from both sites. Fibre shapes dominated ingested plastics, and contamination levels were higher in the more urbanized estuary, indicating that land-based pollution inputs drive microplastic exposure in estuarine zooplankton.
Does microplastic ingestion by zooplankton affect predator-prey interactions? An experimental study on larviphagy
Filter feeders consumed significantly fewer zooplankton prey that had ingested microplastics compared to uncontaminated prey, suggesting that microplastic ingestion makes zooplankton less appealing or nutritious. This effect on predation could have cascading consequences for marine food webs.
Comparing the effects of pristine and UV–VIS aged microplastics: Behavioural response of model terrestrial and freshwater crustaceans
Researchers compared the behavioral effects of pristine versus UV-VIS weathered microplastics on model terrestrial isopods and freshwater amphipods, first characterizing how weathering changed particle surface chemistry. Weathered microplastics produced different behavioral responses than pristine particles in both species, confirming that environmental aging significantly changes the biological hazard profile of plastic particles.
Effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics on amphipods
Researchers exposed two amphipod species to environmentally relevant polyethylene microplastic concentrations and found increased mortality and oxidative stress, with species-specific sensitivity suggesting ecological impacts even at low exposure levels.
Assessment of biomarker-based ecotoxic effects in combating microplastic pollution - A review
This review examined the use of biomarker-based ecotoxicological approaches to assess the impacts of microplastic pollution across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms. The authors argue that standardized biomarker frameworks are needed to quantify ecological harm from microplastics more effectively.