Abstract
Zooplankton are prone to the ingestion of microplastics by mistaking them for prey. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the impacts of microplastic availability on zooplankton behavior. In this study, we investigated the effects of polystyrene microbeads on swimming patterns of the calanoid copepod Temora turbinata under laboratory conditions. We acquired high-resolution video sequences using an optical system containing a telecentric lens and a digital camera with an acquisition rate of 20 frames per second. We estimated the mean speed, NGDR (Net-to-Gross Displacement Ratio, a dimensionless single-valued measure of straightness) and turning angle to describe the swimming behavior in three different treatments (control, low and high concentration of microplastics). Our results revealed that swimming speeds decreased up to 40% (instantaneous speed) compared to controls. The NGDR and turning angle distribution of the organisms also changed in the presence of polystyrene microbeads, both at low (100 beads mL−1) and high microplastic concentration (1000 beads mL−1). These results suggest that the swimming behavior of Temora turbinata is affected by microbeads.
Highlights
These results suggest that the swimming behavior of Temora turbinata is affected by microbeads
The food offered to T. turbinata in our experiments (I. galbana) had a size spectrum (5–7 μm) within the capture range previously reported for this copepod genus [44] and algal concentration was kept constant in the different MP treatments and control
Under “normal” experimental conditions T. turbinata increases its average swimming speed in the presence of food [47], but we found an opposite trend for copepods exposed to microbeads
Summary
Disposal and fragmentation of a wide variety of polymers, followed by their dispersion within large-scale circulation systems, have spread microplastics across the oceans, even to the most remote locations [1,2,3]. Microplastics (MPs) are particles smaller than 5 mm and can be classified as primary or secondary depending on their origin [4]. Primary MPs include fibers [5], pellets [6] and microspheres from cosmetics and other applications [7]. Primary and secondary MPs have been recorded in the digestive tract of several marine organisms, including fish [11], annelids [12] and mollusks [13]. Neurological problems [14], hormonal impairment [15], false sensation of satiation, loss of body mass [16] and even death [17]
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