Microplastics Alter the Properties and Sinking Rates of Zooplankton Faecal Pellets

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05905
• Publication Date: 2016-02-23T17:42:16Z
• Authors: Matthew Cole; Penelope K. Lindeque; Elaine Fileman; James Clark; Ceri Lewis; Claudia Halsband; Tamara S. Galloway
• Keywords: Plastic pollution; Settling; Pellet; Biota; Holdfast; Biofouling

Plastic debris is a widespread contaminant, prevalent in aquatic ecosystems across the globe. Zooplankton readily ingest microscopic plastic (microplastic, < 1 mm), which are later egested within their faecal pellets. These pellets source of food for marine organisms, and contribute to oceanic vertical flux particulate organic matter as part biological pump. The effects microplastics on pellet properties currently unknown. Here we test hypotheses that (1) vector transport microplastics, (2) polystyrene can alter sinking rates zooplankton egests and, (3) facilitate transfer plastics coprophagous biota. Following exposure 20.6 μm (1000 mL–1) natural prey (∼1650 algae copepod Calanus helgolandicus with significantly (P 0.001) reduced densities, 2.25-fold reduction rates, higher propensity fragmentation. We further show encapsulated Centropages typicus, could be transferred C. via coprophagy. Our results support proposal represents mechanism by floating vertically transported away from surface waters.