Effect of micro-plastic particles on coral reef foraminifera

Author(s): Alexander Zientek, Michael Schagerl, Matthias Nagy, Wolfgang Wanek, Petra Heinz, Sameh S. Ali, Michael Lintner
Abstract: Foraminifera are single-celled protists which are important mediators of the marine carbon cycle. In our study, we explored the potential impact of polystyrene (PS) microplastic particles on two symbiont-bearing large benthic foraminifera species—Heterostegina depressa and Amphistegina lobifera—over a period of three weeks, employing three different approaches: investigating (1) stable isotope (SI) incorporation—via ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-labelled substrates—of the foraminifera to assess their metabolic activity, (2) photosynthetic efficiency of the symbiotic diatoms using imaging PAM fluorometry, and (3) microscopic enumeration of accumulation of PS microplastic particles inside the foraminiferal test. The active feeder A. lobifera incorporated significantly more PS particles inside the cytoplasm than the non-feeding H. depressa, the latter accumulating the beads on the test surface. Photosynthetic area of the symbionts tended to decrease in the presence of microplastic particles in both species, suggesting that the foraminiferal host cells started to digest their diatom symbionts. Compared to the control, the presence of microplastic particles lead to reduced SI uptake in A. lobifera, which indicates inhibition of inorganic carbon and nitrogen assimilation. Competition for particulate food uptake was demonstrated between algae and microplastic particles of similar size. Based on our results, both species seem to be sensitive to microplastic pollution, with non-feeding H. depressa being more strongly affected.
Organisation(s): Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Palaeontology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science
External organisation(s): Tanta University, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS)
Journal: Scientific Reports
Volume: 14
ISSN: 2045-2322
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63208-3
Publication date: 12-2024
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 105118 Palaeontology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/effect-of-microplastic-particles-on-coral-reef-foraminifera(9393a696-99da-4cb3-bd8b-14204e9adb1e).html

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