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Rades M, Poschet G, Gegner H, Wilke T, Reichert J. Chronic effects of exposure to polyethylene microplastics may be mitigated at the expense of growth and photosynthesis in reef-building corals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116631. [PMID: 38917503 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The causes of the physiological effects of microplastic pollution, potentially harming reef-building corals, are unclear. Reasons might include increased energy demands for handling particles and immune reactions. This study is among the first assessing the effects of long-term microplastic exposure on coral physiology at realistic concentrations (200 polyethylene particles L-1). The coral species Acropora muricata, Pocillopora verrucosa, Porites lutea, and Heliopora coerulea were exposed to microplastics for 11 months, and energy reserves, metabolites, growth, and photosymbiont state were analyzed. Results showed an overall low impact on coral physiology, yet species-specific effects occurred. Specifically, H. coerulea exhibited reduced growth, P. lutea and A. muricata showed changes in photosynthetic efficiency, and A. muricata variations in taurine levels. These findings suggest that corals may possess compensatory mechanisms mitigating the effects of microplastics. However, realistic microplastic concentrations only occasionally affected corals. Yet, corals exposed to increasing pollution scenarios will likely experience more negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Rades
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Gernot Poschet
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hagen Gegner
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jessica Reichert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
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Miller C, Neidhart A, Hess K, Ali AMS, Benavidez A, Spilde M, Peterson E, Brearley A, Wang X, Dhanapala BD, Cerrato JM, Gonzalez-Estrella J, El Hayek E. Uranium accumulation in environmentally relevant microplastics and agricultural soil at acidic and circumneutral pH. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171834. [PMID: 38521258 PMCID: PMC11141427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The co-occurrence of microplastics (MPs) with potentially toxic metals in the environment stresses the need to address their physicochemical interactions and the potential ecological and human health implications. Here, we investigated the reaction of aqueous U with agricultural soil and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) through the integration of batch experiments, microscopy, and spectroscopy. The aqueous initial concentration of U (100 μM) decreased between 98.6 and 99.2 % at pH 5 and between 86.2 and 98.9 % at pH 7.5 following the first half hour of reaction with 10 g of soil. In similar experimental conditions but with added HDPE, aqueous U decreased between 98.6 and 99.7 % at pH 5 and between 76.1 and 95.2 % at pH 7.5, suggesting that HDPE modified the accumulation of U in soil as a function of pH. Uranium-bearing precipitates on the cracked surface of HDPE were identified by SEM/EDS after two weeks of agitation in water at both pH 5 and 7.5. Accumulation of U on the near-surface region of reacted HDPE was confirmed by XPS. Our findings suggest that the precipitation of U was facilitated by the weathering of the surface of HDPE. These results provide insights about surface-mediated reactions of aqueous metals with MPs, contributing relevant information about the mobility of metals and MPs at co-contaminated agricultural sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Miller
- Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Andrew Neidhart
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, MSC03 2060, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Kendra Hess
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, EN0059, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 740784, USA
| | - Abdul-Mehdi S Ali
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Angelica Benavidez
- Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Michael Spilde
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Eric Peterson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Adrian Brearley
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Xuewen Wang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, EN0059, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 740784, USA
| | - B Dulani Dhanapala
- College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 740784, USA
| | - José M Cerrato
- Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, EN0059, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 740784, USA
| | - Eliane El Hayek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
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Reichert J, Tirpitz V, Oponczewski M, Lin C, Franke N, Ziegler M, Wilke T. Feeding responses of reef-building corals provide species- and concentration-dependent risk assessment of microplastic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169485. [PMID: 38143004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
The negative impacts of microplastic on reef-building corals are often attributed to the feeding responses to these particles. Although reactions to and ingestion of microplastic are frequently reported, a quantitative comparison to natural particles and of the factors influencing these responses is largely missing. Thus, this study aims to compare the feeding rates of corals to microplastic and natural particles, considering factors influencing these responses. Specifically, we I) studied the feeding responses of corals to microplastic, natural food, and non-food particles, II) examined the influence of biotic factors (i.e., biofilm on the particles and presence of natural food), III) evaluated species-specific differences in feeding responses to microplastic particles, and IV) applied a toxicodynamic model for species- and concentration-dependent risk assessments. We assessed the feeding responses of 11 coral species, spanning different life-history strategies and growth forms in experimental feeding trials. The results showed that the feeding responses of corals to microplastic differ from those to naturally occurring particles. Reactions to microplastic and natural food occurred equally often, while sand was more frequently rejected. Yet, the ingestion process was much more selective, and microplastic was ingested less frequently than natural food. The presence of a biofilm and natural food had activating effects on the feeding behavior of the corals on microplastic. Generally, coral species that exhibit a higher degree of heterotrophic feeding also reacted more often to microplastic. The species- and concentration-dependent toxicodynamic risk model built on these data reveals that most tested coral species are unlikely to be at risk under present environmental concentration levels. However, highly heterotrophic feeders, such as Blastomussa merleti, or generally vulnerable species, such as Pocillopora verrucosa, need special consideration. These findings help to better evaluate the responses of corals to microplastic and their risk in an increasingly polluted ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Reichert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, HI, Kāne'ohe, USA.
| | - Vanessa Tirpitz
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Mareike Oponczewski
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Chieh Lin
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Niklas Franke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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