Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/811 |
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| author | M. Berlino G. Sarà M. C. Mangano |
| author_facet | M. Berlino G. Sarà M. C. Mangano |
| author_sort | M. Berlino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 impact an organism’s performance, this causes indirect repercussions further up the ecological hierarchy on the ecosystem’s stability and functioning, and its associated goods and services are at risk. Standardized methods to generate salient targets and indicators are urgently needed to better inform policy makers and guide mitigation plans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-501c434ffe454da29fc46b25296a7f46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-501c434ffe454da29fc46b25296a7f462023-11-18T09:22:54ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-06-0112681110.3390/biology12060811Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic SpeciesM. Berlino0G. Sarà1M. C. Mangano2Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Sicily Marine Centre, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (Complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, DiSTeM, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, ItalyStazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Sicily Marine Centre, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (Complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, ItalyMicroplastics 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 impact an organism’s performance, this causes indirect repercussions further up the ecological hierarchy on the ecosystem’s stability and functioning, and its associated goods and services are at risk. Standardized methods to generate salient targets and indicators are urgently needed to better inform policy makers and guide mitigation plans.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/811microplasticsaquatic organismsfunctional traitsmeta-analysiseffects size |
| spellingShingle | M. Berlino G. Sarà M. C. Mangano Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species Biology microplastics aquatic organisms functional traits meta-analysis effects size |
| title | Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species |
| title_full | Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species |
| title_fullStr | Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species |
| title_short | Functional Trait-Based Evidence of Microplastic Effects on Aquatic Species |
| title_sort | functional trait based evidence of microplastic effects on aquatic species |
| topic | microplastics aquatic organisms functional traits meta-analysis effects size |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/811 |
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