Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics represent an ever-increasing threat to aquatic organisms. We merged data from two global scale meta-analyses investigating the effect of microplastics on benthic organisms' and fishes' functional traits. Results were compared, allowing differences related to vertebrate and invertebrate habitat, life stage, trophic level, and experimental design to be explored. Functional traits of aquatic organisms were negatively affected. Metabolism, growth, and reproduction of benthic organisms were impacted, and fish behaviour was significantly affected. Responses differed by trophic level, suggesting negative effects on trophic interactions and energy transfer through the trophic web. The experimental design was found to have the most significant impact on results. As microplastics impac

SUBMITTER: Berlino M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10294819 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature