The Impact of Polystyrene Microplastics on Feeding, Function and Fecundity in the Marine Copepod Calanus helgolandicus
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 6 January 2015
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in Environmental Science & Technology
- Vol. 49 (2), 1130-1137
- https://doi.org/10.1021/es504525u
Abstract
Microscopic plastic debris, termed “microplastics”, are of increasing environmental concern. Recent studies have demonstrated that a range of zooplankton, including copepods, can ingest microplastics. Copepods are a globally abundant class of zooplankton that form a key trophic link between primary producers and higher trophic marine organisms. Here we demonstrate that ingestion of microplastics can significantly alter the feeding capacity of the pelagic copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Exposed to 20 μm polystyrene beads (75 microplastics mL–1) and cultured algae ([250 μg C L–1) for 24 h, C. helgolandicus ingested 11% fewer algal cells (P = 0.33) and 40% less carbon biomass (P < 0.01). There was a net downward shift in the mean size of algal prey consumed (P < 0.001), with a 3.6 fold increase in ingestion rate for the smallest size class of algal prey (11.6–12.6 μm), suggestive of postcapture or postingestion rejection. Prolonged exposure to polystyrene microplastics significantly decreased reproductive output, but there were no significant differences in egg production rates, respiration or survival. We constructed a conceptual energetic (carbon) budget showing that microplastic-exposed copepods suffer energetic depletion over time. We conclude that microplastics impede feeding in copepods, which over time could lead to sustained reductions in ingested carbon biomass.Keywords
Funding Information
- Natural Environment Research Council (NE/I528034, NE/L007010/1)
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stressScientific Reports, 2013
- Microplastic Ingestion by ZooplanktonEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2013
- Functional response of carbon absorption efficiency in the pelagic calanoid copepod Acartia tonsaLimnology and Oceanography, 2010
- Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlifePhilosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2009
- Feeding rates and selectivity among nauplii, copepodites and adult females of Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus helgolandicusHelgoland Marine Research, 2002
- Environmental and nutritional factors determining seasonal variability in the fecundity and egg viability of Calanus helgolandicus in coastal waters off Plymouth, UKMarine Ecology Progress Series, 1996
- Measuring production and viability of eggs in Calanus helgolandicusJournal of Plankton Research, 1995
- Behavior of Acartia tonsa in patchy food environmentsLimnology and Oceanography, 1992
- The feeding response of a marine planktonic copepod to quantity and quality of particlesMarine Ecology Progress Series, 1985
- Interspecies homology of RNA tumor virus proteinsBiochemistry, 1977