Document of bibliographic reference 348027

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Organic enrichment can increase the impact of microplastics on meiofaunal assemblages in tropical beach systems

Abstract

The cumulative impact of microplastic and organic enrichment is still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the microplastic contamination, the organic enrichment and their effects on meiofaunal distribution and diversity in two islands of the Maldivian archipelago: one more pristine, and another strongly anthropized. Field studies were coupled with manipulative experiments in which microplastic polymers were added to sediments from the non-anthropized island (i.e., without organic enrichment) to assess the relative effect of microplastic pollution on meiofauna assemblages. Our results reveal that the impact of microplastic contamination on meiofaunal abundance and taxa richness was more significant in the anthropized island, which was also characterized by a significant organic enrichment. Meiofauna exposed experimentally to microplastic contamination showed: i) the increased abundance of opportunistic nematodes and copepods and ii) a shift in the trophic structure, increasing relevance in epistrate-feeder nematodes. Based on all these results, we argue that the coexistence of chronic organic enrichment and microplastics can significantly increase the ecological impacts on meiofaunal assemblages. Since microplastic pollution in the oceans is predicted to increase in the next decades, its negative effects on benthic biodiversity and functioning of tropical ecosystems are expected to worsen especially when coupled with human-induced eutrophication. Urgent actions and management plans are needed to avoid the cumulative impact of microplastic and organic enrichment.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000744239900004

Bibliographic citation

Corinaldesi, C.; Canensi, S.; Carugati, L.; Lo Martire, M.; Marcellini, F.; Nepote, E.; Sabbatini, S.; Danovaro, R. (2022). Organic enrichment can increase the impact of microplastics on meiofaunal assemblages in tropical beach systems. Environ. Pollut. 292(Part B): 118415. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118415

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true