Short-term microplastic effects on marine meiofauna abundance, diversity and community composition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Due to the copious disposal of plastics, marine ecosystems receive a large part of this waste. Microplastics (MPs) are solid particles smaller than 5 millimeters in size. Among the plastic polymers, polystyrene (PS) is one of the most commonly used and discarded. Due to its density being greater than that of water, it accumulates in marine sediments, potentially affecting benthic communities. This study investigated the ingestion of MP and their effect on the meiofauna community of a sandy beach. Meiofauna are an important trophic link between the basal and higher trophic levels of sedimentary food webs and may therefore be substantially involved in trophic transfer of MP and their associated compounds.

Methods

We incubated microcosms without addition of MP (contr

SUBMITTER: de Franca FJL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11297435 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature