Plastic Alters Biofilm Quality as Food Resource of the Freshwater Gastropod Radix balthica

Environmental Science & Technology
Alexander T L VosshageFriederike Gabel

Abstract

High amounts of plastic debris enter and accumulate in freshwater systems across the globe. The plastic contamination of benthic habitats in lakes and running waters poses a potential threat to freshwater ecosystems. This study investigates the effects of plastic on two trophic levels of the aquatic food web: primary production, that is, epiplastic biofilm, and primary consumption, that is, a benthic invertebrate grazer. Two plastic types, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC), and glass (control) were used as substrata for natural biofilm establishment. PMMA and PC are, for example, intensively used in the automobile, construction, and electronical industries and in cosmetics (PMMA), CDs, and DVDs (PC). These biofilms were fed to the freshwater gastropod  Radix balthica (Linnaeus 1758) in a laboratory-grazing experiment. Biofilm structure and composition were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy before the grazing experiment. Sublethal effects on R. balthica were observed measuring consumption of biofilm and growth rates. The biofilm composition on PMMA significantly differed compared to PC and glass. The grazing experiments showed limited biofilm consumption and lower growth rates of R. balthica i...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 4, 2020·The ISME Journal·Shiye ZhaoTracy J Mincer
Sep 24, 2021·Environmental Science & Technology·Jianlong WangJianming Xue
Nov 16, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Diana N Michler-KozmaFriederike Gabel

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