Effects of Nylon Microplastic on Feeding, Lipid Accumulation, and Moulting in a Coldwater Copepod

Cole, MJ, Coppock, RL, Lindeque, PK, Altin, D, Reed, S, Pond, DW, Sørensen, L, Galloway, TS and Booth, AM 2019 Effects of Nylon Microplastic on Feeding, Lipid Accumulation, and Moulting in a Coldwater Copepod. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01853

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract/Summary

Microplastic debris is a pervasive environmental contaminant that has the potential to impact the health of biota, although its modes of action remain somewhat unclear. The current study tested the hypothesis that exposure to fibrous and particulate microplastics would alter feeding, impacting on lipid accumulation, and normal development (e.g., growth, moulting) in an ecologically important coldwater copepod Calanus finmarchicus. Preadult copepods were incubated in seawater containing a mixed assemblage of cultured microalgae (control), with the addition of ∼50 microplastics mL–1 of nylon microplastic granules (10–30 μm) or fibers (10 × 30 μm), which are similar in shape and size to the microalgal prey. The additive chemical profiles showed the presence of stabilizers, lubricants, monomer residues, and byproducts. Prey selectivity was significantly altered in copepods exposed to nylon fibers (ANOVA, P < 0.01) resulting in a nonsignificant 40% decrease in algal ingestion rates (ANOVA, P = 0.07), and copepods exposed to nylon granules showed nonsignificant lipid accumulation (ANOVA, P = 0.62). Both microplastics triggered premature moulting in juvenile copepods (Bernoulli GLM, P < 0.01). Our results emphasize that the shape and chemical profile of a microplastic can influence its bioavailability and toxicity, drawing attention to the importance of using environmentally relevant microplastics and chemically profiling plastics used in toxicity testing.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine Ecology and Biodiversity
Depositing User:	Kim Hockley
Date made live:	10 Jun 2019 10:42
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2020 11:01
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/8210

Actions (login required)

View Item