Does microplastic ingestion dramatically decrease the biomass of protozoa grazers? A case study on the marine ciliate Uronema marinum

Yan, Zhang; Wang, Jun; Geng, Xianhui; Jiang, Yong

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129308

Cited by 40 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The carbon biomass of Uronema marinum was reduced after ingestion of polystyrene microplastics (2.14 µm diameter) at high concentrations. At the same time, that effect was not observed at low microplastic concentrations (Zhang et al, 2021). A study by Bulannga and Schmidt (2022) reported that two holotrich ciliates, Paramecium sp., and Tetrahymena sp., ingested microplastics of 2, 5, and 10 μm diameter at the same rate as biological prey of similar size.…”

Section: Ingestion Of Microplastics and Nanoplastics By Ciliated Micr...mentioning

confidence: 96%

Micro- and nanoplastics in freshwater ecosystems—interaction with and impact upon bacterivorous ciliates

Bulannga,

Schmidt

2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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The ubiquitous occurrence of microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic environments is of major concern as these priority pollutants are readily ingested by a wide variety of aquatic organisms. Although quantitative data on the interaction of microplastics and even more so on nanoplastics in freshwater environments and their interaction with the aquatic food web are still limited, studies have nevertheless demonstrated that even micro- or nanosized plastic particles can be ingested by various members of the zooplankton functioning as primary consumers. Bacterivorous ciliates are crucial members of the microzooplankton. These fascinating microorganisms are critical components of microbial loops in freshwater environments and are essential links between different trophic levels within the aquatic food web. Ingestion of microscopic plastic particles affects the ciliate cell on a cellular and even on the molecular level. Physical and chemical characteristics such as size, density, and surface properties influence the stability, distribution, retention, transportation, and bioavailability of the microplastic particles for ingestion by ciliates. In turn, the environmental fate of microplastics and nanoplastics can affect their ecotoxicity via surface modifications, such as forming the so-called eco-corona. The consequences of the interaction of ciliates with microplastics and nanoplastics are the potential bioaccumulation of plastic particles through the food web and the possible interference of these emerging pollutants with controlling bacterial and possibly even viral abundance in freshwater environments. Due to the limited data available, studies elucidating the environmental bacterivorous ciliate-micro-/nanoplastics interaction are a priority research topic if we want to holistically assess the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of these pollutants.

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Section: Ingestion Of Microplastics and Nanoplastics By Ciliated Micr...mentioning

confidence: 96%

Micro- and nanoplastics in freshwater ecosystems—interaction with and impact upon bacterivorous ciliates

Bulannga,

Schmidt

2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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“…Boenigk and Arndt (2002) reported that Acanthamoeba and heterotrophic nanoflagellates ingested latex beads. In another laboratory study, the population abundance, biomass, and volume of free‐living marine ciliated protozoa Uronema marinum were reported to significantly decrease after exposure to polystyrene (PS) beads (Y. Zhang et al., 2021). However, further studies are needed on MPs’ potential effects on soil protozoa as they play a fundamental role for soil fertility.…”

Section: Effects Of Mps On Soil Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in agroecosystems: A review of effects on soil biota and key soil functions

Shafea

Yap

Bériot

et al. 2022

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Contamination of soils in agroecosystems with microplastics (MPs) is of increasing concern. The contamination of the environment/farmland soils with MPs (1 µm to 5 mm sized particles) and nanoplastics (NPs; <1 µm sized particles) is causing numerous effects on ecological soil functions and human health. MPs enter the soil via several sources, either from intentional plastic use (e.g., plastic mulch, plastic greenhouses, plastic‐coated products) or indirectly from the input of sewage sludge, compost, or irrigation water that is contaminated with plastic. Once in the soil, plastic debris can have various impacts such as changes in soil functions and physicochemical properties and it affects soil organisms due to its toxic behavior. This review paper describes the different effects of plastic waste to understand the consequences for agricultural productivity. Furthermore, we identify knowledge gaps and highlight the required approaches, indicating future research directions on sources, transport, and fate of MPs in soils to improve our understanding of various unspecified abiotic and biotic impacts of MP pollution in agroecosystems.

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“…38,151,304,[312][313][314] ) predictions is lacking 151,314,315 , specifically: (i) on the effects of microbial biofouling on the buoyancy of individual sub-millimetre microplastics; and (ii) on natural marine biofilm parameters, namely biofilm thickness and density 151 . Further impacts of microbial colonisation on the vertical transport of plastics are related to the ingestion of plastics by macroorganisms 5,316,317 , although micro-eukaryotes, including marine dinoflagellates 91 and ciliates 318 , have also been observed to ingest small microplastics, possibly making microplastics more bioavailable for marine organisms at higher trophic levels 318 .…”

Section: Effects Of Microbe-plastic Interactions On Plastic Buoyancy and Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

<em> </em>Current Research on Microbe-Plastic Interactions in the Marine Environment

Latva¹,

Zadjelovic²,

Wright³

2021

Preprint

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The microbial colonisers of plastics – the ‘plastisphere’ – can affect all interactions that plastics have with their surrounding environments. While only specifically characterised within the last 10 years, at the beginning of 2021 there were 140 primary research and 65 review articles that investigate at least one aspect of the plastisphere. We gathered information on the locations and methodologies used by each of the primary research articles, highlighting several aspects of plastisphere research that remain understudied: (i) the non-bacterial plastisphere constituents; (ii) the mechanisms used to degrade plastics by marine isolates or communities; (iii) the capacity for plastisphere members to be pathogenic or carry antimicrobial resistance genes; and (iv) meta-OMIC characterisations of the plastisphere. We have also summarised the topics covered by the existing plastisphere review articles, identifying areas that have received less attention to date – most of which are in line with the areas that have fewer primary research articles. Therefore, in addition to providing an overview of some fundamental topics such as biodegradation and community assembly, we discuss the importance of eukaryotes in shaping the plastisphere, potential pathogens carried by plastics and the impact of the plastisphere on plastic transport and biogeochemical cycling. Finally, we summarise the future directions suggested by the reviews that we have evaluated and suggest other key research questions.

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Does microplastic ingestion dramatically decrease the biomass of protozoa grazers? A case study on the marine ciliate Uronema marinum

Cited by 40 publications

References 51 publications

Micro- and nanoplastics in freshwater ecosystems—interaction with and impact upon bacterivorous ciliates

Micro- and nanoplastics in freshwater ecosystems—interaction with and impact upon bacterivorous ciliates

Microplastics in agroecosystems: A review of effects on soil biota and key soil functions

<em> </em>Current Research on Microbe-Plastic Interactions in the Marine Environment

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