Microplastics ingestion in the ephyra stage of Aurelia sp. triggers acute and behavioral responses

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 189; p. 109983
• Main Authors: Costa, Elisa, Gambardella, Chiara, Piazza, Veronica, Vassalli, Massimo, Sbrana, Francesca, Lavorano, Silvia, Garaventa, Francesca, Faimali, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.02.2020
• Subjects: 3D-holotomographic microscope; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Eating; Ecotoxicology; Gelatinous zooplankton; Microplastic; Microplastics - toxicity; Polyethylene; Polyethylene - toxicity; Scyphozoa - drug effects; Scyphozoa - physiology; Toxicity; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Zooplankton - drug effects; Zooplankton - physiology; 3D-holotomographic microscope; Polyethylene; Gelatinous zooplankton; Ecotoxicology; Microplastic; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109983

For the first time, we report a correspondence between microplastics (MP) ingestion and ecotoxicological effects in gelatinous zooplankton (Cnidarian jellyfish). The ephyra stage of the jellyfish Aurelia sp. was exposed to both environmental and high concentrations of fluorescent 1–4 μm polyethylene MP (0.01–10 mg/L). After 24 and 48 h, MP accumulation, acute (Immobility) and behavioral (Frequency pulsation) endpoints were investigated. MP were detected by confocal and tomographic investigations on gelatinous body and mouth, either attached on the surface or ingested. This interaction was responsible for impairing ephyrae survival and behavior at all tested concentrations after 24 h. Acute and behavioral effects were also related to mechanical disturbance, caused by MP, triggering a loss of radial symmetry. Contaminated ephyrae exposed to clean seawater showed full recovery after 72 h highlighting the organisms without the microspheres, attached on body jellyfish surface around the mouth and lappets. In conclusion, short-term exposure to MP affects ephyrae jellyfish health, impairing both their survival and behavior. Polyethylene MP temporarily affect both Immobility and Frequency of pulsation of Aurelia sp. jellyfish. This study provides a first step towards understanding and clarifying the potential impacts of MP contamination in gelatinous zooplankton. [Display omitted] •Confocal observation alone does not clarify whether polyethylene MP were inside the ephyrae body.•An innovative interferometric technique allowed verification of the ingestion of polyethylene MP by ephyrae.•Short-term exposure to polyethylene MP temporarily affects both Immobility and Frequency pulsation of ephyrae.•Contaminated ephyrae exposed to clean seawater showed full recovery after 72 h.•The acute and behavioral effects observed may be related to some mechanical disturbance in ephyrae jellyfish.