Effects of microplastics on the feeding rates of larvae of a coastal fish: direct consumption, trophic transfer, and effects on growth and survival.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics are now found throughout the world's oceans, and although many organisms ingest microplastics, less is known about how plastics in seawater may affect key processes such as feeding rate, growth, and survival. We used a series of laboratory experiments to test whether microplastics in seawater affected the feeding rates of larvae of the California Grunion, Leuresthes tenuis. In addition, we tested whether trophic transfer of microplastics from zooplankton to larval fish can occur and affect growth and survival of fish. We measured feeding rates of grunion larvae at various concentrations of 75-90 µm and 125-250 µm polyethylene microplastics and under both still water and turbulent conditions. In these experiments, exposure to microplastics had modest effects on feeding

SUBMITTER: Uy CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8764328 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature