Joppien, Marlena, Westphal, Hildegard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7324-6122, Stuhr, Marleen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9155-9464 and Doo, Steve ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3346-6152 (2022) Microplastics alter feeding strategies of a coral reef organism. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 7 (2). pp. 131-139. DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10237.

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Abstract

Increasing marine microplastic pollution has detrimentally impacted organismal physiology and ecosystem
functioning. While previous studies document negative effects of microplastics on coral reef animals, the
potential responses of organisms such as large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are largely unknown. Here, we document
the impact of microplastics on heterotrophic feeding behavior of LBF. Specimens of Amphistegina gibbosa
were incubated in three experimental treatments: (1) Artemia sp. nauplii only; (2) pristine microplastic particles
only; and (3) choice of nauplii and pristine microplastic. Feeding responses were evaluated 24 h after initiation
of treatments. A separate experiment was conducted to compare the effect of conditioned vs. pristine microplastic.
Our results indicate that A. gibbosa is able to selectively feed on Artemia, avoiding interactions with pristine
microplastic. However, the presence of conditioned microplastic causes similar feeding interaction rates as
with Artemia. This suggests that microplastics with longer residence times may have a larger impact on facultative
detritivores.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA4
Research affiliation:	Biogeochemistry and Geology > Geoecology & Carbonate Sedimentology
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	Yes
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10237
ISSN:	2378-2242
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2022 12:01
Last Modified:	28 Mar 2024 13:25
URI:	http://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/4848

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