Increasing marine microplastic pollution has detrimentally impacted organismal physiology and ecosystem
functioning. While previous studies document negative effects of microplastics on coral reef animals, the
potential responses of organisms such as large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are largely unknown. Here, we document
the impact of microplastics on heterotrophic feeding behavior of LBF. Specimens of Amphistegina gibbosa
were incubated in three experimental treatments: (1) Artemia sp. nauplii only; (2) pristine microplastic particles
only; and (3) choice of nauplii and pristine microplastic. Feeding responses were evaluated 24 h after initiation
of treatments. A separate experiment was conducted to compare the effect of conditioned vs. pristine microplastic.
Our results indicate that A. gibbosa is able to selectively feed on Artemia, avoiding interactions with pristine
microplastic. However, the presence of conditioned microplastic causes similar feeding interaction rates as
with Artemia. This suggests that microplastics with longer residence times may have a larger impact on facultative
detritivores.
Joppien M., Westphal H., Stuhr M. and Doo S. (2022) Microplastics alter feeding strategies of a coral reef organism. Limnology and Oceanography Letters 7(2): 131-139. 10.1002/lol2.10237
@article{Joppien2022,
Title = {Microplastics alter feeding strategies of a coral reef organism},
Author = {Joppien, Marlena and Westphal, Hildegard and Stuhr, Marleen and Doo, Steve},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Limnology and Oceanography Letters},
Year = {2022},
Pages = {131-139},
Volume = {7},
Doi = {10.1002/lol2.10237},
Abstract = {Increasing marine microplastic pollution has detrimentally impacted organismal physiology and ecosystem
functioning. While previous studies document negative effects of microplastics on coral reef animals, the
potential responses of organisms such as large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are largely unknown. Here, we document
the impact of microplastics on heterotrophic feeding behavior of LBF. Specimens of Amphistegina gibbosa
were incubated in three experimental treatments: (1) Artemia sp. nauplii only; (2) pristine microplastic particles
only; and (3) choice of nauplii and pristine microplastic. Feeding responses were evaluated 24 h after initiation
of treatments. A separate experiment was conducted to compare the effect of conditioned vs. pristine microplastic.
Our results indicate that A. gibbosa is able to selectively feed on Artemia, avoiding interactions with pristine
microplastic. However, the presence of conditioned microplastic causes similar feeding interaction rates as
with Artemia. This suggests that microplastics with longer residence times may have a larger impact on facultative
detritivores.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Joppien, Marlena
AU - Westphal, Hildegard
AU - Stuhr, Marleen
AU - Doo, Steve
TI - Microplastics alter feeding strategies of a coral reef organism
T2 - Limnology and Oceanography Letters
PY - 2022
SP - 131-139
VL - 7
DO - 10.1002/lol2.10237
AB - Increasing marine microplastic pollution has detrimentally impacted organismal physiology and ecosystem
functioning. While previous studies document negative effects of microplastics on coral reef animals, the
potential responses of organisms such as large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are largely unknown. Here, we document
the impact of microplastics on heterotrophic feeding behavior of LBF. Specimens of Amphistegina gibbosa
were incubated in three experimental treatments: (1) Artemia sp. nauplii only; (2) pristine microplastic particles
only; and (3) choice of nauplii and pristine microplastic. Feeding responses were evaluated 24 h after initiation
of treatments. A separate experiment was conducted to compare the effect of conditioned vs. pristine microplastic.
Our results indicate that A. gibbosa is able to selectively feed on Artemia, avoiding interactions with pristine
microplastic. However, the presence of conditioned microplastic causes similar feeding interaction rates as
with Artemia. This suggests that microplastics with longer residence times may have a larger impact on facultative
detritivores.
ER -
