Microplastics have lethal and sublethal effects on stream invertebrates and affect stream ecosystem functioning

López-Rojo N.; Pérez J.; Alonso A.; Correa-Araneda F.; Boyero L.

dc.contributor.author	López-Rojo N.
dc.contributor.author	Pérez J.
dc.contributor.author	Alonso A.
dc.contributor.author	Correa-Araneda F.
dc.contributor.author	Boyero L.
dc.date.accessioned	2020-09-02T22:21:53Z
dc.date.available	2020-09-02T22:21:53Z
dc.date.issued	2020
dc.identifier	10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113898
dc.identifier.citation	259, , -
dc.identifier.issn	02697491
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12728/5140
dc.description	Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants of increasing concern due to their abundance, ubiquity and persistence over time. However, knowledge about MP distribution in fresh waters and their effects on freshwater organisms is still scarce, and there is virtually no information about their potential influence on ecosystem functioning. We used a microcosm experiment to examine the effects of MPs (fluorescent, 10-μm polystyrene microspheres) at different concentrations (from 0 to 103 particles mL−1) on leaf litter decomposition (a key process in stream ecosystems) and associated organisms (the caddisfly detritivore Sericostoma pyrenaicum), and the extent to which MPs were attached to leaf litter and ingested and egested by detritivores, thus assessing mechanisms of MP trophic transfer. We found that MPs caused detritivore mortality (which increased 9-fold at the highest concentration) but did not affect their growth. Analysis of fluorescence in samples suggested that MPs were rapidly ingested (most likely through ingestion of particles attached to leaf litter) and egested. Leaf litter decomposition was reduced as a result of increasing MP concentrations; the relationship was significant only in the presence of detritivores, but microbially-mediated decomposition showed a similar trend. Our findings provide novel evidence of harmful effects of MPs on aquatic insects and stream ecosystem functioning, and highlight the need for the standardization of methods in future experiments with MPs in order to allow comparisons and generalizations. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier Ltd
dc.subject	Detritivores
dc.subject	Ecotoxicity
dc.subject	Freshwater ecosystems
dc.subject	Litter decomposition
dc.subject	Plastic
dc.subject	Fluorescence
dc.subject	Microplastic
dc.subject	Plastics
dc.subject	Polystyrenes
dc.subject	Stream flow
dc.subject	Water
dc.subject	Detritivores
dc.subject	Ecosystem functioning
dc.subject	Ecotoxicity
dc.subject	Freshwater ecosystem
dc.subject	Leaf litter decomposition
dc.subject	Litter decomposition
dc.subject	Microcosm experiments
dc.subject	Polystyrene micro-sphere
dc.subject	Aquatic ecosystems
dc.subject	microsphere
dc.subject	polystyrene
dc.subject	concentration (composition)
dc.subject	decomposition
dc.subject	detritivory
dc.subject	ecosystem function
dc.subject	ecotoxicology
dc.subject	freshwater ecosystem
dc.subject	invertebrate
dc.subject	litter
dc.subject	plastic
dc.subject	sublethal effect
dc.subject	aquatic invertebrate
dc.subject	Article
dc.subject	controlled study
dc.subject	detritivore
dc.subject	ingestion
dc.subject	leaf litter
dc.subject	lethality
dc.subject	litter decomposition
dc.subject	microcosm
dc.subject	mortality rate
dc.subject	nonhuman
dc.subject	particle size
dc.subject	plastic waste
dc.subject	river ecosystem
dc.subject	stream (river)
dc.subject	Trichoptera
dc.subject	water pollution
dc.subject	animal
dc.subject	chemistry
dc.subject	drug effect
dc.subject	ecosystem
dc.subject	insect
dc.subject	plant leaf
dc.subject	river
dc.subject	toxicity
dc.subject	Hexapoda
dc.subject	Invertebrata
dc.subject	Sericostoma pyrenaicum
dc.subject	Trichoptera
dc.subject	Animals
dc.subject	Ecosystem
dc.subject	Insecta
dc.subject	Microplastics
dc.subject	Plant Leaves
dc.subject	Rivers
dc.title	Microplastics have lethal and sublethal effects on stream invertebrates and affect stream ecosystem functioning
dc.type	Article