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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic's triple threat
ClearMicroplastics stunt fish growth and alter behavior
A study of European perch larvae found that high levels of polystyrene microplastics inhibited hatching, stunted growth, and made fish more likely to be eaten by predators. These findings raised serious concern about microplastic impacts on fish populations and the marine food supply that humans depend on.
Exposure to microplastics impairs fish's major behaviors. A novel threat to aquatic ecosystem
This review synthesises evidence on how microplastic exposure alters key behaviours in fish including feeding, reproduction, predator avoidance, and social interaction. It identifies neurological disruption, chemical co-toxicity, and gut effects as primary mechanisms, and highlights exposure to realistic environmental concentrations as an ongoing knowledge gap.
Microplastic Vector Effects: Are Fish at Risk When Exposed via the Trophic Chain?
Three-spined sticklebacks exposed to chlorpyrifos-contaminated microplastics via a trophic chain accumulated the pesticide in their bodies and showed inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity and hyperactivity, a behavioral change that could increase vulnerability to predators. The study confirms that microplastics can deliver contaminants to fish and alter organ distribution of chemicals compared to direct water exposure.
Effects of microplastics on the feeding rates of larvae of a coastal fish: direct consumption, trophic transfer, and effects on growth and survival
Researchers tested whether microplastics in seawater affect the feeding rates, growth, and survival of California Grunion fish larvae. They found that microplastics reduced feeding rates and demonstrated that trophic transfer of microplastics from zooplankton to larval fish occurs readily. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may impair early fish development by interfering with feeding behavior and introducing contaminants through the food chain.
Ingestion of polyethylene microplastics impacts cichlid behaviour despite having low retention time
Researchers fed juvenile cichlid fish brine shrimp contaminated with polyethylene microplastics and observed significant behavioral changes, including altered activity and feeding patterns, even though the plastic particles passed through the fish quickly. The study suggests that even brief microplastic exposure can disrupt normal fish behavior, which could affect their survival in polluted waterways.
Microplastic pollution and nutrient enrichment shift the diet of freshwater macroinvertebrates
Researchers studied how microplastic pollution and excess nutrients together affect the feeding behavior of freshwater invertebrates in controlled experiments. They found that both conventional and biodegradable microplastics shifted what the organisms chose to eat, and these effects were amplified when combined with nutrient enrichment. The study suggests that microplastic pollution interacts with other common environmental stressors to alter freshwater food webs.
Microplastics and behavioral changes in fish: an integrative review
This integrative review synthesizes the scientific literature on how microplastic exposure affects fish behavior, covering feeding, reproduction, predator avoidance, and social interactions. Exposure to microplastics consistently disrupted behavioral endpoints across fish species, with effects linked to oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.
Assessment of dietary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate exposure in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: Bioaccumulation, and effects on behaviour, growth, hematology and histology
Nile tilapia fish fed three common types of microplastics (PVC, polypropylene, and PET) showed reduced growth, abnormal behavior, blood cell damage, and tissue damage in their gills, liver, and intestines. The harmful effects increased with higher doses of microplastics and varied by plastic type. Since tilapia is one of the most widely consumed fish globally, these findings raise concerns about the health of fish that may carry microplastic contamination to human diets.
Microplastic exposure interacts with habitat degradation to affect behaviour and survival of juvenile fish in the field
Juvenile coral reef fish pulse-fed polystyrene microplastics and then released onto live or degraded coral patches became bolder, more active, and strayed farther from shelter — with microplastic exposure having a larger behavioral effect than habitat degradation — potentially increasing predation risk in the field.
Effect of alternative natural diet on microplastic ingestion, functional responses and trophic transfer in a tri-trophic coastal pelagic food web
Researchers studied how microplastics move through a three-level marine food chain, from zooplankton prey to planktivorous fish, and how the availability of natural food affects microplastic ingestion. When natural food was scarce, organisms consumed more microplastics, and the particles transferred efficiently up the food chain. This study demonstrates that microplastics in the ocean can accumulate through the food web and reach fish species that humans commonly eat.
Do microplastics impair male dominance interactions in fish? A test of the vector hypothesis
Male fighting fish were exposed to microplastics to test whether plastic ingestion impaired dominance interactions and territorial behavior, with results showing that microplastic-exposed males displayed altered aggression and competitive behavior compared to controls. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can disrupt ecologically important social behaviors in fish.
A meta-analysis of the effects of exposure to microplastics on fish and aquatic invertebrates
Microplastic effects on fish and aquatic invertebrates were highly variable across taxa, but the most consistent finding was reduced consumption of natural prey when microplastics were present; zooplankton and other prey organisms appeared particularly susceptible, with potential food web ramifications.
Microplastics do not affect the feeding rates of a marine predator
Researchers exposed a marine predatory fish to microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations and measured feeding rate, finding no significant effect on prey capture behavior, suggesting that concerns about microplastics disrupting predator feeding may not apply at current environmental concentrations.
Are Microplastics Impairing Marine Fish Larviculture?—Preliminary Results with Argyrosomus regius
Meagre larvae exposed to polyethylene microplastics for 7 hours ingested particles regardless of concentration, and at the highest dose (10 mg/L) showed reduced feeding activity, altered oxidative stress markers, and neurotoxicity indicators, suggesting short-term physiological impairment.
Microplastics and the functional traits of fishes: A global meta‐analysis
This global meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies to measure how microplastics affect fish. The results showed that microplastic exposure harms feeding behavior, growth, and overall health in fish, with younger fish being especially vulnerable. Since fish are a major protein source for humans, these effects could ultimately impact food security and the quality of seafood on our plates.
Microplastics have a more profound impact than elevated temperatures on the predatory performance, digestion and energy metabolism of an Amazonian cichlid
Researchers exposed juvenile Amazonian cichlid fish to microplastics, elevated temperatures, and both stressors combined over 30 days. They found that microplastic exposure had a more significant negative impact on predatory performance, digestion, and energy metabolism than elevated temperature alone. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may be a more immediate threat to freshwater fish than moderate temperature increases associated with climate change.
Can Fish Escape the Evolutionary Trap Induced by Microplastics?
Researchers tested three fish species—bass, carp, and goldfish—to quantify how their sensory systems and social context influence microplastic ingestion. Bass responded to visual food cues, carp to olfactory ones, and goldfish relied on oral processing; group size and fasting time altered MP ingestion, showing that species-specific foraging strategies create an evolutionary trap around microplastics.
Decreased growth and survival in small juvenile fish, after chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic
Researchers exposed juvenile glassfish to environmentally realistic concentrations of both virgin and harbor-collected microplastics for 95 days, finding that fish in plastic-fed groups grew significantly less in length, depth, and mass, and had lower survival probability than controls.
Trophic transfer of microplastics in an estuarine food chain and the effects of a sorbed legacy pollutant
Researchers investigated microplastic trophic transfer using a model estuarine food chain of tintinnids (single-celled organisms) and larval silversides fish. They found that fish ingested significantly more microplastics through contaminated prey than through direct exposure, and larvae that consumed DDT-treated microspheres showed increased feeding on contaminated prey. Larvae exposed to microplastics had significantly lower body weight after 16 days, demonstrating that trophic transfer is a meaningful route of microplastic exposure with measurable harmful effects.
The Challenge of Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystem: A Review of Current Consensus and Future Trends of the Effect on the Fish
This review synthesizes research on how microplastics affect aquatic ecosystems, covering ingestion by marine animals, trophic transfer up the food chain, and the chemicals that microplastics carry. The findings highlight that microplastic contamination is now widespread enough to threaten marine biodiversity and food security for populations that rely on seafood.
Effet des microplastiques sur les jeunes stades de vie des poissons marins
This French-language thesis reviewed laboratory and experimental research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect early life stages of marine fish, covering physical, chemical, and behavioral effects. The study highlights that plastic exposure during early development is particularly concerning given the vulnerability of larval and juvenile fish stages.
Impacts of microplastics on coastal biota and the potential for trophic transfer
This research investigated how microplastics affect coastal marine organisms and whether they transfer up the food chain, finding that beach invertebrates readily ingest microplastics and show behavioral changes, and that contaminated prey can transfer plastics to predators. The results raise concerns about cascading effects through marine food webs.
Effects of Microplastics on the Feeding Rates of Larvae of a Coastal Fish: Direct Consumption, Trophic Transfer, and Effects on Growth and Survival
Microplastics in seawater reduced the feeding rates of California grunion larvae and could be transferred from prey (copepods) to fish, indicating trophic transfer is possible. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution may impair fish growth and survival by reducing food intake in early life stages.
Some Behavioural and Physiological Effects of Plastics (Polyethylene) on Fish
Researchers examined behavioral and physiological effects of polyethylene microplastics on fish, finding that plastic exposure disrupted endocrine function, altered behavior, and impaired normal development and reproduction.