Microplastic burden in marine benthic invertebrates depends on species traits and feeding ecology within biogeographical provinces

Abstract

The microplastic body burden of marine animals is often assumed to reflect levels of environmental contamination, yet variations in feeding ecology and regional trait expression could also affect a species’ risk of contaminant uptake. Here, we explore the global inventory of individual microplastic body burden for invertebrate species inhabiting marine sediments across 16 biogeographic provinces. We show that individual microplastic body burden in benthic invertebrates cannot be fully explained by absolute levels of microplastic contamination in the environment, because interspecific differences in behaviour and feeding ecology strongly determine microplastic uptake. Our analyses also indicate a degree of species-specific particle selectivity; likely associated with feeding biology. Highest microplastic burden occurs in the Yellow and Mediterranean Seas and, contrary to expectation, amongst omnivores, predators, and deposit feeders rather than suspension feeding species. Our findings highlight the inadequacy of microplastic uptake risk assessments based on inventories of environmental contamination alone, and the need to understand how species behaviour and trait expression covary with microplastic contamination.

Entanglement of Daphnia magna by Fibrous Microplastics through “Hook and Loop” Action

“…These findings are in agreement with current understanding that the size and shape of MPs play a crucial role in interacting with organisms, as animals can only ingest MPs of specific sizes and shapes, often influenced by their oral cavity dimensions or body length, like fragmentary MPs (<100 μm) used in this study . The uptake of smaller MPs likely results from indiscriminate feeding modes (e.g., filter-feeding) …”

“…16 The uptake of smaller MPs likely results from indiscriminate feeding modes (e.g., filterfeeding). 17 Overall, the results of the present study demonstrated that the entanglement is a pathway of interaction between MPs and daphnids, that is specific for fibrous MPs and does not occur in the treatments with fragmentary MPs. Hence, the potential consequences of entanglement by fibrous MPs on swimming behavior of D. magna were further explored.…”

Dual Effect of Microplastics and Cadmium on Stream Litter Decomposition and Invertebrate Feeding Behavior

“…Furthermore, some invertebrates might ingest MPs due to their size and shape, mistaking them for food [97]. This non-selective feeding behavior could lead not only to physical harm and energy dilution but also serve as a vector for MPs and associated pollutants into the food web.…”

Natural Factors of Microplastics Distribution and Migration in Water: A Review

“…Vroom et al pointed out that PS in the intestinal tract of Calanus finmarchicus forms aggregates that can account for 30 to 90 percent of the intestinal volume, and these aggregates are excreted in the form of feces, which, combined with the diurnal vertical migration of aquatic animals, transports microplastics to deeper waters [148]. Different feeding patterns correlate with microplastic loading in aquatic animals [149]. The study showed that a certain concentration of microplastics was detected in the skin tissue, proving that the adhesion of the aquatic animal epidermis or the skin tissue is the carrier of microplastic migration in the water body [150].…”