Integrated response of growth, antioxidant defense and isotopic composition to microplastics in juvenile guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) pollution becomes a research hotspot and many studies focus on threats of MPs, but few have integrated multi-level indicators to assess response to MPs of organisms. Here we exposed guppy (Poecilia reticulata) to MPs (polystyrene; 32−40 μm diameter) with two concentrations (100 and 1000 μg/L) for 28 days. We found that higher accumulation of MPs appeared in guppy gill than that in gut. MPs had no obvious effect on guppy growth but significantly inhibited the condition factor. Oxidative stress presented in guppy viscera with activated antioxidants. The decline of Na+/K+-ATP activity in guppy indicated that MPs might interfere with the osmotic balance of gills. MPs reduced body molar ratio of C:N and δ13C value, but no apparent impact on δ15N. It implied that MPs probably altered elemental transition. Eventually, through integrated biomarkers response index (IBR) of guppy, we found that catalase activity was the highest index in response to MPs, and the response of growth performance to MPs was lower than that of oxidative stress and element alteration. Risks of MPs aggravated in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggested that multi-level IBR approach should be adopted to quantify effects of MPs on aquatic organisms, especially on fish.