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The role of microbe-microplastic associations in marine nematode feeding behaviors
Ridall, A.; Asgari, S.; Ingels, J. (2023). The role of microbe-microplastic associations in marine nematode feeding behaviors. Environ. Pollut. 335: 122308. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122308
In: Environmental Pollution. Elsevier: Barking. ISSN 0269-7491; e-ISSN 1873-6424, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Nematoda [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Microbead; Plastisphere; Microcosm; Pollution; Ecotoxicology

Authors  Top 
  • Ridall, A.
  • Asgari, S.
  • Ingels, J., more

Abstract

    Fauna across many taxa and trophic levels have been shown to consume microplastics (MPs) in experiments, providing evidence that supports field-based gut content assessments. Multiple explanations exist regarding why fauna consume MPs, one of which posits that microbial growth on MPs may facilitate faunal ingestion. However, laboratory assessments on the reasons why MPs are consumed remain limited. Here, we assessed if the presence of microbes on MPs altered marine nematode feeding behaviors across current and potential future concentrations of MPs in a local system. We used a microcosm experiment in which field-collected sediment was spiked with bacterially treated or untreated fluorescent plastic microbeads (1.0–5.0 μm) in concentrations of 102, 104, and 106 per microcosm, representing local and potential future concentrations of MPs. Ingestion by the dominant interstitial fauna was investigated after 0, 3, and 7 days using bright field microscopy. Nematodes were the only fauna across microcosms that consumed MPs, but this consumption was variable and there were no apparent trends across exposure time, bacterial treatment, or MP concentration. There were also no genera- or feeding-type-specific trends in the number of MPs consumed, though four of the top five nematode genera that consumed MPs were pollution-tolerant genera. Our study demonstrates that microbe-MP associations do not drive marine nematodes to eat MPs, especially at local field concentrations. While there were no trends across any of the nematode genera in our study, we recognize that unrealistic MP concentrations in other studies may provide alternative explanations for nematode consumption of MPs.


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