Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue, and it has been found that plankton, the foundational components of the marine food chain, ingest microplastics. Phytoplankton, the tiny plants in plankton, do not actively ingest microplastics, but exposure to high concentrations can alter their photosynthetic rates and overall health. Zooplankton, the tiny animals in plankton, use filter feeding to capture prey, making them prone to ingesting microplastics. This ingestion of microplastics by plankton has broader implications for the marine ecosystem, as it introduces plastic into the food chain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is plankton? | Plankton are tiny organisms that float freely with oceanic currents and in other bodies of water. They are the foundational components of the marine food chain. |
| Types of plankton | There are two main categories of plankton: zooplankton (tiny animals) and phytoplankton (tiny plants like algae or cyanobacteria). |
| How do they eat plastic? | Zooplankton are filter feeders and cannot hand-pick their food. They use their external appendages to create a current, filter large amounts of water, and bring prey to their mouths. This makes them prone to ingesting microplastics. |
| What are microplastics? | Microplastics are microscopic plastic particles that are similar in size to plankton's natural food sources. They are found in extreme environments, such as Arctic sea ice and deep water habitats. |
| Impact of microplastics on plankton | Microplastics can alter the photosynthetic rates and overall health of phytoplankton, reducing their growth and productivity. Zooplankton that ingest microplastics may experience reduced appetite for their natural food sources, leading to potential long-term health consequences. |
| Impact of microplastics on the ecosystem | Plankton that ingest microplastics become contaminated with chemicals and toxins from the ocean water. These toxins can then be passed up the food chain as plankton are consumed by larger organisms, including humans. |
| Reducing plastic consumption | To reduce the impact of plastic on plankton and the ecosystem, individuals can use reusable products, recycle plastic, and avoid products containing microbeads. |
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What You'll Learn
Zooplankton ingest microplastics
Plankton are tiny organisms that form the foundation of the marine food chain. They are categorised into two types: zooplankton (tiny crustaceans) and phytoplankton (microscopic plants). Zooplankton are particularly vulnerable to ingesting microplastics due to their feeding mechanism, which involves filtering prey from the water.
Microplastics are small plastic particles that have contaminated marine environments globally. They can be manufactured to be microscopic in size or derived from the breakdown of larger plastic litter. Due to their small size, zooplankton can accidentally ingest microplastics along with their regular food. Studies have found microplastics in one out of 34 copepods and one out of 17 krill in British Columbia.
The ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton can have negative consequences for their health and the broader marine ecosystem. As microplastics have no nutritional value, the consumption of these particles may lead to a decrease in the consumption of actual food sources by zooplankton. This can impact their growth and reproduction, as observed in experiments where copepods that ingested microplastics produced smaller eggs that were less likely to hatch.
Furthermore, the presence of microplastics in zooplankton can act as a distribution point for plastics to enter the food chain. Zooplankton are preyed upon by larger organisms, including carnivorous plankton and fish, which then transfer the plastics up the trophic levels. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on human health, as plastics can contain toxic chemicals.
The impact of microplastics on zooplankton is an area of ongoing research, with studies aiming to understand the full extent of their effects and develop strategies to mitigate plastic pollution in the environment.
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Phytoplankton are affected by high concentrations of microplastics
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that live in the ocean and make their own food from sunlight and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. They are a key ecological community in aquatic ecosystems, providing energy to food webs and playing critical roles in ecosystem functions such as carbon cycling.
Plastics in the ocean come in the form of microplastics, or tiny plastic pieces that are 5mm or smaller in size. They come in various shapes, colours, and materials. When microplastics enter the ocean, bacteria and phytoplankton can attach to their surfaces and grow there. Research has shown that exposure to high concentrations of microplastics can alter photosynthesis in phytoplankton, which can lead to a buildup of phytoplankton at the ocean's surface. This excess organic matter consumes oxygen as it rots, contributing to the global loss of ocean oxygen.
Studies have also linked the consumption of microplastics by phytoplankton to reduced growth, lifespan, reproduction, and fertility across different plankton species. These impacts can have knock-on effects on the rest of the food chain. For example, zooplankton that eat plastic have a reduced appetite for phytoplankton, which can lead to a further buildup of phytoplankton. Additionally, the ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton can slow the descent of their faeces, potentially dampening the biological carbon pump, a mechanism through which the oceans protect humans from the full impact of anthropogenic greenhouse gases.
The effects of microplastics on phytoplankton communities are a growing concern, and further studies are needed to fully understand the potential risks to ecosystem functioning and food webs.
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Microplastics are toxic to the food chain
Microplastics are a serious threat to the food chain, from the smallest organisms to humans. Plankton, the foundational components of the marine food chain, are vulnerable to microplastic ingestion. Zooplankton, tiny crustaceans, use filter feeding to capture their prey, which makes them prone to ingesting microplastics that are similar in size to their natural food sources. Studies have shown that zooplankton like krill and copepods ingest microplastics, with one study finding microplastics in 1 in every 34 copepods and 1 in every 17 krill in British Columbia.
Phytoplankton, on the other hand, do not actively ingest microplastics, but exposure to high concentrations can alter their photosynthetic rates and overall health, reducing their growth and productivity, which affects the entire food chain. When microplastics enter the sea, bacteria and phytoplankton can attach to the surface of the plastic particles and grow there. Some phytoplankton produce a chemical called dimethyl sulphide (DMS), which signals to copepods that phytoplankton, their food source, is nearby.
The ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton and phytoplankton can have serious consequences for the rest of the food chain. Zooplankton are prey for larger organisms like carnivorous plankton, fish, and even whales and humans. As microplastics move up the food chain, they can accumulate and have toxic effects on larger organisms, including humans.
Microplastics have been found in various foodstuffs, including seafood, honey, tea, sugar, fruit, and vegetables. They can also enter the human food chain through the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer on farmland, as plants have the ability to absorb nanoplastic particles from the surrounding water and soil. A study by Willie Peijnenburg, a professor at Leiden University, found that crops absorb minuscule plastic particles through tiny cracks in their roots, with the plastic accumulating mainly in the roots and only a small amount travelling to the shoots.
The health impacts of microplastics are a serious concern. Studies have linked microplastics to an increased likelihood of heart attack, stroke, and death. They have also been associated with inflammation, non-communicable diseases, and allergic reactions. Microplastics can carry toxic chemicals and microorganisms, damaging tissues and causing adverse health effects such as intestinal damage, immune problems, and neurotoxicity. The full extent of the health impacts of microplastics is not yet fully understood, and further research is needed to address this emerging crisis.
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Larvaceans transport plastic through the ocean
Marine animals, including zooplankton, face a significant threat from microplastics in the ocean. These tiny plastic particles, often microscopic in size, can be accidentally ingested by zooplankton, leading to potential health risks and disrupting the marine food chain. Giant larvaceans, a type of zooplankton, have been found to play a crucial role in transporting plastic from the ocean surface to the deep seafloor.
Larvaceans are filter-feeding organisms that construct mucus filters, known as "houses," to capture their prey. These filters can be over a meter in size and efficiently trap tiny particles of drifting debris, including microplastics. Larvaceans are highly effective filters, with a single larvacean capable of filtering up to 11 gallons of water per hour. When their filters become clogged, larvaceans abandon them, and these discarded houses sink rapidly toward the seafloor. This process facilitates the transport of microplastics to deeper ocean regions.
The ability of larvaceans to transport plastic has been demonstrated in various studies. In one experiment, researchers used an underwater drone to disperse color-coded microplastic particles near larvaceans in Monterey Bay, California. This allowed them to track the movement of plastics and confirm larvacean ingestion. Additionally, laboratory studies have shown that larvaceans do not always differentiate between plastic beads and natural phytoplankton during feeding, indicating they may unintentionally consume microplastics.
The impact of larvaceans on plastic distribution extends beyond direct ingestion. Larvaceans are a part of the food chain, serving as prey for carnivorous plankton and fish. As a result, plastics and their toxins can be introduced into the food web, potentially affecting larger organisms, including humans. Furthermore, the discarded houses and stools of larvaceans are consumed by other marine organisms, providing another pathway for plastic transfer within the ecosystem.
While larvaceans are significant contributors to plastic transport, they are not the only filter feeders in the ocean. Other organisms, such as salps, doliolids, and pyrosomes, are also potential consumers of microplastics and play a role in plastic distribution within marine food webs. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the complex dynamics of plastic transportation and its ecological implications.
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Microplastics block sunlight, preventing plankton from photosynthesising
Microplastics are microscopic plastic particles that have infiltrated the entire planet, from Mount Everest to the deepest oceans. These particles are a concern for zooplankton and other marine animals.
Plankton are tiny organisms that float in vast numbers and are carried by the tides and currents. They are the foundational components of the marine food chain. There are two main types of plankton: zooplankton and phytoplankton. Zooplankton are tiny crustaceans that use filter feeding to capture their prey, which makes them prone to ingesting microplastics. Phytoplankton are microscopic plants like algae or cyanobacteria that photosynthesise to convert sunlight into energy.
Research shows that exposure to microplastics in high enough concentrations can alter photosynthesis in phytoplankton. When microplastics enter the sea, bacteria and phytoplankton can attach to the surface of the plastic particles and grow there. As phytoplankton perform photosynthesis, the microplastics can block sunlight from reaching them. This reduces their growth and productivity, which in turn affects the entire food chain.
Studies have found that microplastics can reduce photosynthesis in phytoplankton by about 7%. This can lead to broader implications for the marine ecosystem. For example, phytoplankton blooms in the oceans can remove climate-heating CO2 from the atmosphere, but reduced photosynthesis may cut the amount of CO2 they can take in. Additionally, the ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton can reduce their feeding rates, impacting their growth, lifespan, reproduction, and fertility.
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Frequently asked questions
Microplastics are plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size. They can be manufactured to be microscopic or can be the result of the breakdown of larger plastic litter.
Plastic with plankton can look like a piece of plankton, especially to zooplankton, which are tiny filter-feeding crustaceans that cannot hand-pick their food. Instead, they use their appendages to create a current, filter large amounts of water, and bring prey to their mouths.
Plastic blocks sunlight from reaching plankton, preventing them from photosynthesizing and producing oxygen. Plastic also attracts other contaminants, which are then consumed by plankton and passed on to other creatures in the food chain.
To reduce plastic consumption, individuals can use reusable bags and water bottles, avoid products with microbeads, recycle plastic products, and volunteer for local beach cleanups.
